title: Matrilysins may not predict the metastatic potential in squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine immunoexpression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-7 and -26 in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the tongue and its relation with cervical metastasis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twenty-four cases were selected and divided into two groups: a metastatic group (n = 12) and a non-metastatic group (n = 12). Cases were graded as either negative (score 0), positive (score +) or strongly positive (score ++).
  
  
  RESULTS
  MMP-7 expression was identical in both groups, with 17% of the cases graded as score 0, 50% as score + and 33% as score ++. MMP-26 expression was 25% score 0, 8% score + and 67% score ++ in the metastatic group, and 8% score 0, 50% score + and 42% score ++ in the non-metastatic group. Statistical analysis showed no differences between the studied groups and no correlations between proteins.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MMP-7 and -26 immunostaining is not a useful indicator of the metastatic potential of SCCs of the tongue. However, the role of these proteins in the process of invasion and metastasis cannot be ruled out since their more marked presence along the tumor invasion front compared to more central areas of the tumors indicates higher secretion of these proteases in this region, facilitating the invasion process.
authors.affiliation: Medicine Department, Brasília University, Distrito Federal, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rivadávio Fernandes Batista
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: de Amorim
authors.forename: Ericka Janine Dantas
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: da Silveira
authors.forename: Lélia Maria Guedes
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Queiroz
authors.forename: Hébel Cavalcanti
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Galvão
authors.forename: Lélia Batista
authors.initials: LB
authors.lastname: de Souza
authors.forename: Roseana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Almeida Freitas
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D015971:Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7 / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D053504:Matrix Metalloproteinases, Membrane-Associated / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D053505:Matrix Metalloproteinases, Secreted / Q000096:biosynthesis / Q000235:genetics*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: C410599:MMP26 protein, human; D053504:Matrix Metalloproteinases, Membrane-Associated; D053505:Matrix Metalloproteinases, Secreted; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7