Furthermore, an MMP2 inhibitor tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP)2 and MMP9 inhibitor TIMP1 were used to treat PAN/GEM cells and it was demonstrated that both inhibitors increased the inhibition of hyperthermia treatment combined with GEM on cell invasion, suggesting an association between cell invasion and MMP2, and MMP9.
In immunostaining, only MMPs showed evident differences among the causes of death: MMP-9 was intensely positive in most cases of hyperthermia and hypothermia, but MMP-2 expression was evident only in hyperthermia.
In addition, NDRG2 overexpression inhibited the expression of matrix metallo proteinases-2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 as well as the invasion of HCC cells, whereas knockingdown NDRG2 reversed the anti-invasion effect of HT in vivo.