title: The expression of metaloproteinases-2 and -9 is different according to the patterns of growth and invasion in squamous cell carcinoma of the penis.
abstract: Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the penis is characterized by different patterns of growth and local invasion. The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) is a family of proteolytic enzymes that are involved in the degradation of extracellular matrix to allow the migration of tumor cells. The present study examined whether the expression of MMP-2 and -9 is correlated with the patterns of tumor growth and invasion in penile SCC. The expression of MMP-2 and -9 was examined immunohistochemically in samples of 115 patients. The cases were divided in three groups according to the patterns of growth and invasion: group 1, exophytic growth and pushing pattern of invasion; group 2, endophytic growth and invasion in large sheets of cells; and group 3, endophytic growth and invasion in small group or isolated cells. Tumors with MMP-2 and -9 overexpression are deeply invasive and present an invasion pattern of small groups of cells. Also, expression of MMP-2 changed from membrane to cytoplasm in invasive tumors, maybe representing activation of MMP-2. These findings allow us to conclude that the less differentiated tumors, which are more invasive and with a pattern of invasion in small group of cells, are associated with the overexpression of MMPs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomic Pathology, Medical and Research Center Hospital do Câncer A C Camargo, #211 Antonio Prudente Street, 1st floor, São Paulo, São Paulo 01509-010, Brazil. fasoares@hcancer.org.br
authors.forename: Fernando A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: Isabela Werneck
authors.initials: IW
authors.lastname: da Cunha
authors.forename: Gustavo Cardoso
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Guimarães
authors.forename: Sueli
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Nonogaki
authors.forename: Rodrigo Sousa Madeira
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Campos
authors.forename: Ademar
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lopes
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000032:analysis*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D010412:Penile Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9