title: Serum matrix metalloproteinase-9 in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma is a prognostic marker.
abstract: The aim of this study was to determine whether serum matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) could predict cause-specific and relapse-free survival in patients with squamous cell carcinoma of head and neck. Furthermore, this study was designed to investigate whether there is an association between MMP-9 immunohistochemical staining and serum MMP-9 levels. Pretreatment serum levels of MMP-9 were quantitatively measured by ELISA assay in 67 patients presenting with a primary head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. The results were compared with the corresponding immunohistochemical staining results, clinical data and the patients' outcome. The follow-up time for all of the patients was at least 5 years. There was a statistically significant correlation between circulating MMP-9 and MMP-9 immunohistochemical staining in the corresponding tumors (p = 0.028). The cause-specific and relapse-free survival rates were clearly lower among patients with high MMP-9 serum levels (> 73 ng/ml). The 5-year cause-specific survival-rate was 40% in a patient group with high serum MMP-9, and 69% for patients with a low MMP-9 level (p = 0.027). In the same follow-up period, the cumulative relapse-free survival rate was 36% in patients presenting with a high serum MMP-9 and 66% in those with a low MMP-9 level. No correlation was found between MMP-9 serum levels and the traditional clinical or histopathologic factors. The results suggest for the first time that pretreatment serum MMP-9 level could serve as a prognostic factor in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, University of Oulu and Oulu University Hospital, Oulu, Finland. hruokola@paju.oulu.fi
authors.forename: Henni
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ruokolainen
authors.forename: Paavo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pääkkö
authors.forename: Taina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Turpeenniemi-Hujanen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9