Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 in preinvasive and invasive carcinoma of the uterine cervix.
OBJECTIVE
To study the immunohistochemical expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in preinvasive and invasive carcinoma of the uterine cervix so as to demonstrate whether the expression of MMP-2 is an early or late event in the process of dedifferentiation and cancer progression.


METHODS
A total number of 50 samples of cervical tissue were studied for MMP-2 immunoreactivity. The cases were selected to include ten normal cases used as a control group, 20 CIN cases and 20 cervical carcinoma cases. The CIN group was subdivided into CIN1 (n = 7), CIN2 (n = 6) and CIN3 (n = 7), while the carcinoma group was represented by squamous cell carcinoma (n = 16) and adenocarcinoma (n = 4).


RESULTS
MMP-2 expression was totally absent in control cervices and low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, while high-grade squamous intraepithelial neoplasia and invasive carcinoma showed up-regulation of MMP-2 expression with no significant difference concerning the type of carcinoma. This overexpression of MMP-2 points to the possibility that it is an early marker of tumor progression in cervical carcinoma.


CONCLUSIONS
MMP-2 has a key role in extracellular matrix degradation and invasion in carcinoma of the uterine cervix. Its expression in high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions may denote a potential risk for invasion and metastasis.
Nasr
Mohamed
M
Departments of Pathology, Gynecologic Oncology Unit, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.
Ayyad
S B
SB
El-Lamie
I K I
IK
Mikhail
M Y
MY
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000378:metabolism*; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000378:metabolism; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D002578:Uterine Cervical Dysplasia / Q000378:metabolism*
D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2