Objective    To explore the expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) through tissue microarray technique and immunohistochemical method and investigate the clinicopathological significance.     Methods    Totally 80 NSCLC specimens and 10 normal lung tissue samples were constructed into tissue microarray

and then immunohistochemical staining (S-P) was performed on these tissue chips. Chi-square test was employed for statistical analysis.     Results    The positive rates of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were 81.25% (65/80) and 73.75% (59/80) respectively

which had no significant difference in sex

age

size of tumor

histology and differentiation (P0.05). The positive rates of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were significantly higher in the cases with lymphnode metastasis [84.72% (61/72) and 77.78% (56/72)] than those without lymphnode metastasis [50% (4/8) and 37.50% (3/8)

P0.05 ]. The cases  at stage Ⅲ had a positive rate of 94.23% (49/52) in MMP-2 expression and of 84.61% (44/52) in MMP-9 expression

while for those at stage  Ⅰ+Ⅱ

the rates were 57.14% (16/28) and 53.57% (15/28) with significant difference between the 2 groups. The expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 was positively correlated.     Conclusion    The combination of tissue microarray and immunohistochemical assay is fast and effective to examine MMP-2 and MMP-9 expressions in NSCLC. The expressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 are closely associated with lymphnode metastasis and clinical stages

but not with sex

age

size of tumor

histology and differentiation. Overexpressions of MMP-2 and MMP-9 are closely correlated to the progression

lymphnode metastasis of NSCLC

and may be used as an index for evaluation of the NSCLC progression.