BACKGROUNDThere are a lot of studies on relationship of surface adhesion molecule (CD44) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) with tumors in recent years, however study on osteopontin (OPN) is still few. The aim of this study is to investigate the levels of OPN, CD44v6 and MMP-2 in squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the lung, and to clearly understand their roles in growth, invasion and metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma.

METHODSOPN, CD44v6 and MMP-2 were detected in 69 patients with squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma by immunohistochemical method.

RESULTSThe expression rate of OPN, CD44v6 and MMP-2 was significantly related to histological classification, TNM stages and lymph node metastasis (P < 0.05), but not to cell differentiation (P > 0.05). There was a positive correlation between OPN and CD44v6 expression (P < 0.001), as well as between OPN and MMP-2 expression (P < 0.001). There was no correlation between CD44v6 and MMP-2 expression.

CONCLUSIONSOPN, CD44v6 and MMP-2 expression is related to the histology, TNM stages and lymph node metastasis of lung cancer. They might be used as clinical indicators to predict the progress and metastatic potential for squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma of the lung.