title: Increased expression of membrane type 1-matrix metalloproteinase in head and neck carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Three types of membrane type-matrix metalloproteinases (MT-MMPs) have been identified as activators of pro-MMP2 (gelatinase A/72-kilodalton Type IV collagenase), which is believed to be crucial for tumor invasion and metastasis. MT1-MMP has been shown to be widely expressed in various tissues and to be overexpressed in lung and gastric carcinomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Activation of pro-MMP2 was examined in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) by gelatin zymography. The expression of the MT1-MMP mRNA transcript was studied by Northern hybridization and that of MT1-MMP protein by immunohistochemical staining with a monoclonal antibody against MT1-MMP.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Activation of pro-MMP2 was observed in ten of ten HNSCC tissues. Increased expression of the MT1-MMP mRNA transcript was also detected in eight of eight of these tissues. MT1-MMP positive cells were detected at the tumor cell lesions in the majority of these carcinoma tissues by immunohistochemical staining (24 of 27). MT1-MMP expression was more intense in moderately and well differentiated tumors than in poorly differentiated ones (P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that MT1-MMP is involved in the activation of pro-MMP2 in HNSCC. These findings suggest that MT1-MMP is significant not only as a tumor marker but as a new target for chemotherapy against HNSCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, School of Medicine, Kanazawa University, Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yoshizaki
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sato
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Maruyama
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Murono
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Furukawa
authors.forename: C S
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Seiki
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology*; D017364:Collagenases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D018093:Gelatinases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D012333:RNA, Messenger; D017364:Collagenases; D018093:Gelatinases; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1