Influence of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) on the metastatic behavior of oropharyngeal cancer.
BACKGROUND
The role of the single matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in the metastatic process of squamous cell carcinomas (SCC) is still obscure.


METHODS
The MMP-9 expression was described immunohistochemically in 105 patients (40-79 years of age, mean: 57.84 years; 84 male, 21 female) suffering from orophatyngeal cancer (22x TI, 31x T2, 24x T3, 28x T4) with different neck stages (41x N0, 6x N1, 54x N2, 4x N3 neck).


RESULTS
A significant correlation between MMP-9 expression and T stage (p < 0.05), N stage (r = 0.55, p < 0.01) and UICC stage (r = 0.55, p < 0.01) was revealed. Most remarkable was the high MMP-9 expression with simultaneously high UICC stages.


CONCLUSIONS
The results give further indication that MMP-9 plays a role in the metastatic behavior of oropharyngeal SCC. It will be a project for the near future to create a standardized evaluation score of immuno-histological stainings to allow valid comparison of the results and published data.
Dünne
A A
AA
Department of Otolaryngology, Head and Neck Surgery, Philipps University of Marburg, Marburg, Germany.
Gröbe
A
A
Sesterhenn
A M
AM
Barth
P
P
Dalchow
C
C
Werner
J A
JA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000556:secondary*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009959:Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology*
D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9