目的 :探讨基质金属蛋白酶 (MMP)及其组织抑制剂 (TIMP)与腮腺肿瘤的临床相关性。方法 :采用ABC法进行免疫组织化学染色 ,观察MMP 2、MMP 9及其TIMP 1,TIMP 2在 6 0例腮腺良性和恶性肿瘤中的表达 ,比较它们与临床特征的相关性及其各因子间的相关性。结果 :①腮腺恶性肿瘤有淋巴结转移和远处转移时TIMP 2的表达下调 (P <0 .0 1) ;②在腮腺良性肿瘤中 ,6 0岁以上患者MMP 2的表达明显增强 (P <0 .0 1) ;③MMP 2与MMP 9,MMP 9与TIMP 1,MMP 2与TIMP 2呈线性正相关性 (P <0 .0 5 )。结论 :在腮腺恶性肿瘤中 ,MMP 2与TIMP 2之间的平衡失调可能更为重要 ,TIMP 2表达的下调可作为肿瘤早期转移和浸润的标志之一。 Objective: To investigate the clinical significance of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP) in parotid gland tumor. Methods: Immunohistochemical staining with ABC method was used to observe the expression of MMP 2, MMP 9, TIMP 1 and TIMP 2 in 60 parotid benign and malignant tumors. The correlation between them and clinical features and the relationship between them Relevance. Results: ① The expression of TIMP-2 in lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis of parotid gland tumor was down-regulated (P <0.01). ② In the parotid benign tumor, the expression of MMP-2 was significantly increased in patients with over 60 years old (P <0 .0 1). ③ There was a linear positive correlation between MMP 2, MMP 9, MMP 9 and TIMP 1, MMP 2 and TIMP 2 (P <0.05). Conclusions: The imbalance between MMP 2 and TIMP 2 may be more important in parotid malignancies. Down-regulation of TIMP-2 expression may be one of the markers of early metastasis and invasion of tumors.