Elevated expression of MMP-13 and TIMP-1 in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas may reflect increased tumor invasiveness.
BACKGROUND
Matrix metalloproteinases [MMPs], which degrade the extracellular matrix, play an important role in the invasion and metastasis of squamous cell carcinomas. One MMP, MMP-13, is thought to play a central role in MMP activation. The purpose of this study was to investigate MMP-13 and TIMP-1 expression in squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck and to relate these levels of expression to histologic patterns of invasion.


METHODS
This study included T1 lesions obtained via biopsy from the larynx, tongue, and skin/mucosa of 78 patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. The relationship between expression of MMP-13 and TIMP-1 and the mode of tumor invasion [MI] was evaluated immunohistochemically, using breast carcinoma tissue as a positive control.


RESULTS
Increased expression was observed in highly invasive tumors, as reflected by the significant correlation between the degree of staining for MMP-13 or TIMP-1 and MI grade [p < 0.05]. There was no significant relationship between the degree of staining for MMP-13 or TIMP-1 and patient age, sex, tumor site, or tumor histologic grade. In addition, levels of staining for MMP-13 did not correlate with levels of staining for TIMP-1.


CONCLUSIONS
The expression of MMP-13 and TIMP-1 appears to play an important role in determining the invasive capacity of squamous cell carcinomas of the head and neck. Whereas additional studies are needed to confirm these findings, evaluating expression of these MMPs in small biopsy samples may be useful in determining the invasive capacity of these tumors at an earlier stage.
Culhaci
Nil
N
Department of Pathology, Adnan Menderes University, Faculty of Medicine, Aydin, Turkey. nculhaci@adu.edu.tr
Metin
Kubilay
K
Copcu
Eray
E
Dikicioglu
Emel
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D001706:Biopsy; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D017364:Collagenases / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D017364:Collagenases; C507079:MMP13 protein, human; D053509:Matrix Metalloproteinase 13