Therapeutic effect of topical 5-fluorouracil in conjunctival squamous carcinoma is associated with changes in matrix metalloproteinases and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases expression.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate matrix metalloproteinases (MMP)-2, MMP-9, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 expression in a case of conjunctival intraepithelial squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) treated with topical 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) chemotherapy.


METHODS
Clinicopathologic case report.


RESULTS
A 71-year-old male patient presented with an intraepithelial conjunctival SCC. Because of a recurrence, he was placed on topical 5-FU for 4 weeks that ultimately led to a complete resolution of the disease. Conjunctival biopsies, impression cytologies, and tear samples were taken from the mass and the contralateral healthy eye. An overexpression of MMP-2, MMP-9, and TIMP-1 was observed in the tumor by immunohistochemistry. Clinical resolution of the neoplasm obtained using topical 5-FU was accompanied by a reduction in the expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, and TIMP-1 in tears and dysplastic conjunctival epithelium.


CONCLUSIONS
In our case report, we have shown that gelatinase and TIMP-1 are unregulated in conjunctival SCC and can be monitored as a marker of response to topical chemotherapy. Further studies are required to define the role of MMPs in growth and resolution of ocular tumors.
Iovieno
Alfonso
A
Department of Ophthalmology, University Campus Bio-Medico, 00128 Rome, Italy.
Lambiase
Alessandro
A
Moretti
Caterina
C
Perrella
Eleonora
E
Bonini
Stefano
S
D000287:Administration, Topical; D000368:Aged; D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D003230:Conjunctival Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology; D005472:Fluorouracil / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000378:metabolism*
D000964:Antimetabolites, Antineoplastic; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D005472:Fluorouracil