Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-3 in stage I and II squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity.
OBJECTIVE
The object of this study was to evaluate the significance of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) in tumor invasion and metastasis of early squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the oral cavity.


METHODS
Surgical specimens from 65 patients with stage I and II SCC of the oral cavity were the subjects of this study. Tissue specimens were fixed in formalin and embedded in paraffin, and the sections were stained with monospecific antibodies against human MMP-3 by the avidin-biotin-peroxidase complex method.


RESULTS
Of the 65 patients, 30 (46.2%) tested positive for MMP-3. Immunoreactivity revealed the expression of MMP-3 to be in the small cancer nests in the advancing front of invasion, but not in normal oral epithelium. MMP-3 expression was positively correlated with tumor size, depth of tumor invasion, diffuse invasive mode, and the high incidence of lymph node metastasis.


CONCLUSIONS
MMP-3-containing tumors will invade adjacent normal tissues more aggressively, including lymphatic and blood vessels. Therefore, the examination of MMP-3 expression in biopsy specimens should provide information useful in predicting the malignant potential of early SCC of the oral cavity.
Kusukawa
J
J
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Kurume University School of Medicine, Japan.
Sasaguri
Y
Y
Morimatsu
M
M
Kameyama
T
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000503:physiopathology; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis
D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D019278:Matrix Metalloproteinase 3