Objective:To investigate the expression of ILK and MMP-9 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and its relationship with tumor differentiation

TNM staging

lymph node metastasis and prognosis

and to understand whether there is correlation between ILK and MMP-9.Methods:The indirect immunofluorescence detection of ILK and MMP-9 expression in 45 cases of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and 20 cases of normal esophageal mucosa were analyzed with clinical and pathological data.Results:The immunofluorescence results showed that the expression rates of ILK and MMP-9 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma were 68.89%(31/45) and 62.22%(28/45).The positive rates of ILK and MMP-9 in normal esophageal mucosa were 20%(4/20) and 30%(6/20).As the tumor cell grade

clinical stage and lymph node metastasis increased the level of ILK and

MMP-9 expression rate increased

with significant difference among all groups(P<0.05).The positive expression of ILK

MMP-9 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and normal esophageal mucosa were significantly different(P <0.05).Kaplan-Meier analysis showed the survival time for patient with high expression of ILK and MMP-9 was significantly lower than that for patients with low expression of ILK and MMP-9.Conclusion:ILK

MMP-9 protein are closely related to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

ILK expression or activation may be the reason for the high expression or over-expression of MMP-9.ILK could be used as an independent prognosis reference for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

The joint detection of ILK and MMP-9 expression can help determine the prognosis of patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.