AbstractBackground and ObjectiveBecause matrix metalloproteinase‐2 (MMP‐2) is associated with tumor progression and tissue inhibitor of MMP‐2 (TIMP‐2) selectively inhibits MMP‐2, we investigate the implication of TIMP‐2 in carcinogenesis of uterine cervix.MethodsTwenty‐six cervical cancer tissues and their normal counterparts were collected to evaluate semi‐quantitative mRNA expression of TIMP‐2. Eighty‐two cervical cancer, 26 high‐grade and 26 low‐grade dysplasia, and 26 normal tissues were collected to construct tissue microarrays for immunohistochemical study. We evaluated TIMP‐2 immunoreactivity using H scores in cervical carcinogenesis. Semi‐quantitative expression of MMP‐2 was also detected for comparison.ResultsCervical cancer tissues exhibited statistically lower semi‐quantitative TIMP‐2 (P = 0.028) or higher MMP‐2 (P = 0.036) mRNA expression than their normal counterparts. None of cervical cancer tissues exerted elevated TIMP‐2 and reduced MMP‐2 mRNA expression simultaneously. Cancer tissues have significantly lower TIMP‐2 or higher MMP‐2 H scores than high‐grade and low‐grade dysplasia or normal tissues of uterine cervix.ConclusionsLow expression of TIMP‐2 or high expression of MMP‐2 is semi‐quantitatively demonstrated in cancer of uterine cervix. TIMP‐2 is implicated in cervical carcinogenesis. J. Surg. Oncol. 2011;104:210–215. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.