title: Presence of myofibroblasts and expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in ameloblastomas correlate with rupture of the osseous cortical.
abstract: Myofibroblasts are frequent in the stroma of neoplasm and by the expression of proteinases they can influence tumor infiltration and progression. In the present study, presence of myofibroblasts and expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) were examined in intra-osseous solid multicystic ameloblastomas to determine their roles in the clinicopathological features of the tumors. Fifty seven ameloblastomas were analyzed immunohistochemically with antibodies against the isoform alpha of the smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA), a specific marker of myofibroblasts, MMP-2 and uPA. Myofibroblasts were found in the stroma, in close contact with neoplastic cell islands, of approximately 58% (n = 33) of the ameloblastomas. MMP-2 and uPA were found in the cytoplasm of both neoplastic and stromal cells. A significant correlation between presence of myofibroblasts and MMP-2 expression was observed. Abundant presence of myofibroblast in the stroma of the tumors and expression of MMP-2 in the neoplastic or stromal cells were significantly correlated with rupture of the osseous cortical, which has been considered an important prognostic marker of ameloblastoma aggressiveness. Ours results suggest that abundant presence of myofibroblasts and expression of MMP-2 in solid ameloblastomas may be associated with a more aggressive infiltrative behavior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Stomatology, A. C. Camargo Cancer Hospital, R. Professor Antônio Prudente, 211 São Paulo-SP-Liberdade-CEP 01509-010, São Paulo, Brazil. erfreg@terra.com.br
authors.forename: Eduardo Rodrigues
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Fregnani
authors.forename: Lays M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Sobral
authors.forename: Fabio Abreu
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: Fernando Augusto
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Soares
authors.forename: Luis Paulo
authors.initials: LP
authors.lastname: Kowalski
authors.forename: Ricardo D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Coletta
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000564:Ameloblastoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000378:metabolism; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009130:Muscle, Smooth / Q000201:enzymology; D011379:Prognosis; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000201:enzymology; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000378:metabolism; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2