title: Uterine cervical carcinoma: role of matrix metalloproteinases (review).
abstract: Epidemiological and experimental studies have provided evidence that human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is a main player in the development of uterine cervical neoplasms. Migration of cancer cells from the origin tissue to surrounding or distant organs is essential for tumor progression. Many studies of tumor invasion and metastases have focused on the degradation of the extracellular matrix where matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a central role. Two of these enzymes, MMP-2 and MMP-9, have been correlated with the processes of tumor cell invasion and metastasis in human cancers, including uterine neoplasms. It has been shown that the up-regulation of MMPs is associated with progression of cervical uterine neoplasms. This review describes the current understanding of MMP-2 and MMP-9 expression and activity in pre-cancer and cancer lesions of cervical uterine, which may open new strategies for diagnostic and therapeutic interventions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Catania, I-95124 Catania, Italy. mlibra@unict.it
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Libra
authors.forename: Aurora
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Scalisi
authors.forename: Nadia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Vella
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Clementi
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sorio
authors.forename: Franca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Stivala
authors.forename: Demetrios A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Spandidos
authors.forename: Clorinda
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mazzarino
mesh_terms: D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002584:Cervix Uteri / Q000378:metabolism*; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008954:Models, Biological; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D011379:Prognosis; D015854:Up-Regulation; D002583:Uterine Cervical Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9