MMP9 and gastric carcinoma: To investigate the possible mechanisms of CXCR1/2 involvement in the progression of gastric carcinoma, we examined the immunohistochemical expression of ERK1/2 and AKT phosphorylation and the expression of relevant indicators of proliferation, growth and apoptosis (Bcl-2 and Bax, Cyclin D1, EGFR and Ki-67), angiogenesis (VEGF and CD34), invasion and metastasis (MMP-9, MMP-2, TIMP-2 and E-cadherin) in primary gastric carcinoma and its corresponding nonneoplastic mucosa, which were involved in the regulation of tumor proliferation, growth, angiogenesis, invasion and metastasis.