title: Increased matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase 2 expression is associated with progression from vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia to invasive carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The expression of matrix metalloproteinases 2 (MMP-2) and 9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitors of matrix metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP-1) and 2 (TIMP-2) in vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia (VIN I-III) and in vulvar invasive carcinoma were evaluated.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Oulu University Hospital, Finland.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population consisted of 68 patients with vulvar neoplasia (13 VIN I, 5 VIN II, 6 VIN III and 44 squamous cell carcinomas).
  
  
  METHODS
  Paraffin-embedded tissue samples were examined by immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  METHODS
  MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 expression in VIN compared to vulvar carcinoma.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In VIN I-III MMP-2 expression was positive in 13%, MMP-9 in 13%, TIMP-1 in 50% and TIMP-2 in 17% of patients. The positive expressions in patients with vulvar carcinoma were 52% for MMP-2, 36% for MMP-9, 41% for TIMP-1 and 78% for TIMP-2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that over-expression of MMP-2, MMP-9 and TIMP-2 may be associated with the progression from VIN to invasive vulvar squamous cell carcinoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Milla
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Määttä
authors.forename: Markku
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Santala
authors.forename: Ylermi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Soini
authors.forename: Taina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Turpeenniemi-Hujanen
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Talvensaari-Mattila
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D014846:Vulvar Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9