Active-MMP2 in cancer cell nests of oral cancer patients: correlation with lymph node metastasis.
We examined the gelatinolytic activity in human oral squamous-cell carcinoma tissues in order to evaluate the capability of intravasation and extravasation of cancer cells. By a microdissection-zymography, we demonstrated separately the gelatinolytic activities in cancer cell nests and stroma adjacent to the cancer cells. The gelatinolytic activities, such as pro-matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)9 and active-MMP2 in most of cancer cell nests were much higher than those of normal gingival epithelium. Moreover, the activities of active-MMP2 in cancer cell nests of metastatic cancers were significantly higher than those of non-metastatic cancers (p<0.05). These results suggest that active-MMP2 in cancer cells can be a predictive marker for metastasis formation in oral squamous-cell carcinoma patients.
Kawamata
H
H
Second Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Tokushima University School of Dentistry, Tokushima 770, Japan.
Uchida
D
D
Hamano
H
H
Kimura-Yanagawa
T
T
Nakashiro
K I
KI
Hino
S
S
Omotehara
F
F
Yoshida
H
H
Sato
M
M
D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D004210:Dissection; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D005780:Gelatin / Q000378:metabolism; D018093:Gelatinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D005881:Gingiva / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000378:metabolism*; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D014059:Tongue / Q000473:pathology; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000166:cytology / Q000201:enzymology
D005780:Gelatin; D018093:Gelatinases; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2