Abstract: Objective To study the biological effects of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) in invasion and metastasis of prostate carcinoma. Methods Immunohistochemistry and double-immunofluorescence techniques were used to detect the expressions of MMPs and TIMPs in 5 normal prostate and 34 prostate carcinoma tissues. Results Immunohistochemistry showed that the expressions of MMP7 and MMP9 increased with malignant degree of prostate carcinoma (P<0.001). TIMP1 and TIMP2 expressions had not significant difference between normal prostate and prostate carcinoma (P>0.05). Immunofluorescence staining showed that MMP13 expressed in membrane of normal prostate cells and cancer cells. Double immunofluorescence staining showed that MMP7 and LN both expressed in cancer cells, basement membrane, smooth muscle cells and nerve fiber. MMP9 and collagen Ⅳ both expressed in basement membrane. Conclusion MMP7 and MMP9 can be used as markers for invasion and metastasis of prostate carcinoma . MMP13 has nothing with malignant degree of tumor. In different grades of prostate carcinoma , TIMPs and MMPs have different changes. 

Key words: matrix metalloproteinases, tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases