[The study of the invasive biologic behavior of ameloblastoma].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the invasive biologic behavior of ameloblastoma (AB) and to analyze its correlative factors.


METHODS
The specimens of 43 cases of AB (primary AB 16 cases, recurrent AB 21 cases, malignant AB 6 cases) were examined immunohistochemically using the streptavidin-biotin method to determine the expression of E-cadherin (E-cad), matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9 and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF).


RESULTS
The cells in malignant AB scattered more, grew invasively, and the basal membrane ruptured or lost. The expression of E-cad in AB descended, MMP-2 and MMP-9 were strongly expressed in the epithelia cells of 28/41, 30/43 cases of AB, respectively. The positive rate and intensity of VEGF increased as AB recurred and transformed malignantly. The expression of E-cad, MMP-9 and VEGF were related to recurrence or malignant transformation of AB (r(s) = 0.309, 0.519, 0.381, P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
AB is a high invasive tumor. The biological behavior of AB is related to lost or abnormal expression of E-cad, the high expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, and VEGF.
Department of Pathology, College of Stomatology, China Medical University, Shenyang 110002, China. zhongming1234@163.net
Ming
M
Zhong
Zi-Juan
ZJ
Li
Jie
J
Wang
Yang-Li
YL
Yue
Gang
G
Bao
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000564:Ameloblastoma / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D015820:Cadherins / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007573:Jaw Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000032:analysis; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000032:analysis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000032:analysis
D015820:Cadherins; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9