MMP-14 overexpression correlates with poor prognosis in non-small cell lung cancer

Matrix metalloproteinase-14 (MMP-14) has been demonstrated to play an important role in tumor progression. The aim of this study was to analyze the correlation between MMP-14 expression and clinicopathologic features and its prognostic significance in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Immunohistochemical staining for MMP-14 protein was performed in 104 patients with NSCLC. High levels of MMP-14 protein were positively correlated with the status of clinical stage (I-II vs. III-IV; P<0.001), N classification (N0-N1 vs. N2-N3; P<0.001), distant metastasis (no vs. yes; P=0.014), and differentiated degree (high vs. low or undifferentiated; P=0.001). The patients with higher MMP-14 expression of protein had shorter survival time than patients with low MMP-14 expression. Multivariate analysis indicated that the level of MMP-14 expression was an independent prognostic indicator (P<0.001) for the survival of patients with NSCLC. In conclusion, MMP-14 is a potential unfavorable prognostic factor for patients with NSCLC.