title: Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in high-grade salivary gland carcinomas is associated with their metastatic potential.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the role of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 protein in high-grade malignant tumors of salivary gland origin as well as its utility as a prognostic marker.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four micrometer sections from 27 malignant salivary neoplasms were immunostained using a specific antibody against MMP-9. The staining results (proportion of the stained tumor cells and intensity of tumor stainings) were correlated with the clinical data and with patient outcomes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Immunostaining for MMP-9 was observed in 17 cases, predominantly localized in the tumor cells and occasionally in the inflammatory stroma cells. MMP-9 protein expression correlated with N (P = .04), M (P = .02), and TNM stages (P = .03). MMP-9 expression was prognostic for shortened survival (P = .01). Our results show that the invasiveness and prognosis of high-grade salivary gland cancers may depend on their MMP-9 expression profile.
authors.affiliation: Instituto Universitario de Oncología del Principado de Asturias, del Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Asturias, Spain. jvicente@uniovi.es
authors.forename: Juan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: de Vicente
authors.forename: Paloma
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lequerica-Fernández
authors.forename: Juan Sebastián
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: López-Arranz
authors.forename: Isabel
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Esteban
authors.forename: Manuel Florentino
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Fresno
authors.forename: Aurora
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Astudillo
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D012468:Salivary Gland Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000276:immunology / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9