Abstract: Objective To evaluate the clinical application of MMP-9 and other four tumor markers in serum for the diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC) and the correlation with the clinical staging of NSCLC.Methods Using the ELISA method and tumor markers protein chip,the serum levels of MMP-9,CEA,NSE,CA125 and CA19-9 in 73 cases of NSCLC,21 cases of benign pulmonary diseases and 16 cases of normal controls were measured,and compared with the clinical features of pathol-physiology of NSCLC.Results The concentrations of serum MMP-9,CEA,NSE,CA125 and CA19-9 in patients with NSCLC were significantly higher than those in the group with benign pulmonary disease and in the control group(P<0.01),furthermore,the levels of MMP-9 remarkably went up in NSCLC with increase in tumor size,lymph node metastasis and advance in clinical staging(P<0.01).Conclusion The serum levels of MMP-9,CEA,NSE,CA125 and CA19-9 were of some value in the diagnosis of NSCLC.Being a good marker associated with the biological behaviors,the serum MMP-9 is of greater clinical significance for the diagnosis of NSCLC.

Key words: NSCLC, MMP-9, tumor markers