title: Expression of c-erbB receptors, MMPs and VEGF in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.
abstract: Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) are characterized by a marked propensity for local invasion and cervical lymph node metastasis. The aim of this study was to investigate the expression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), c-erbB-2, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in tumor samples of 91 HNSCC patients, and to study a possible correlation to various clinico-pathologic parameters. The expression of EGFR, c-erbB-2, VEGF, MMP-2, -3 and -9 was analyzed in the same paraffin embedded tissue by semi-quantitative immunohistochemical staining. High expression of EGFR, c-erbB-2, MMP-2 or -9 was associated with advanced clinical stages, nodal metastases and tumor-stages. However, high expression of VEGF or MMP-3 was not associated with any clinico-pathologic parameters except significant correlation between VEGF and the tumor site. There were significant correlations between EGFR, c-erbB-2, MMP-2 and -9 in HNSCC patients. Conversely, no correlation was found between VEGF or MMP-3 and the other markers. However, significant correlation was found between MMP-3 or -9 and VEGF. The results indicate that the expression of EGFR, c-erbB-2, VEGF or MMPs play an important role in tumor growth, invasion and metastasis in HNSCC. The authors conclude that EGFR, c-erbB-2, MMP-2 and -9 could be good independent prognostic markers, but not VEGF and MMP-3.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Chosun University College of Medicine, Kwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Nam-Yong
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Do
authors.forename: Sung-Chul
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lim
authors.forename: Tae-Seung
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Im
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D066246:ErbB Receptors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000096:biosynthesis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D066246:ErbB Receptors; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases; D018719:Erb-b2 Receptor Tyrosine Kinases; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A