[Collagenase 3 mRNA expression in squamous epithelial carcinomas of the oropharynx].
BACKGROUND
Metalloproteinases (MMP) are endopeptidases, which are able to degrade extracellular matrix. It is assumed that MMP play an important role in invasion and metastasis of malignomas. The expression of collagenase-3, also named MMP-13, was already detected in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, but the significance in the process of metastasis is still unclear.


METHODS
36 tumor biopsies of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (10 cases N0, 26 patients N+) and 12 biopsies of normal oropharyngeal mucosa were analysed with reverse transcriptase-PCR and Northern Blot for their mRNA-expression of MMP-13 and TIMP-1, the physiological inhibitor of MMP-13.


RESULTS
In 30 of 36 (83.3%) tumor biopsies a MMP-13-mRNA-expression was detected. In 9 of 10 (90%) cases with N0-status and 21 of 26 (80.7%) cases with N(+)-neck the mRNA-expression could be shown. There was no correlation between MMP-13-mRNA-expression and N-status. In 34 tumor biopsies (94.4%) a TIMP-1-expression was detected. MMP-13-mRNA was not detected in normal oropharyngeal mucosa.


CONCLUSIONS
It seems that MMP-13-mRNA-expression is not a prognostic factor for metastatic behavior of oropharyngeal cancer and therefore not helpful for further decisions on the therapy.
Gottschlich
S
S
Klinik für Hals-, Nasen- und Ohrenheilkunde, Kopf- und Halschirurgie, Universitätsklinikum Kiel, Arnold-Heller-Strasse 14, 24105 Kiel.
Koch
R
R
Görögh
T
T
Holtmeyer
C
C
Hoffmann
M
M
Rudert
H
H
Maune
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001706:Biopsy; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D017364:Collagenases / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D009960:Oropharynx / Q000473:pathology; D011379:Prognosis; D012333:RNA, Messenger / Q000235:genetics*; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000235:genetics*
D012333:RNA, Messenger; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D017364:Collagenases; C507079:MMP13 protein, human; D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13