title: Expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9, and tissue inhibitor of MMP (TIMP)-1 in conjunctival melanomas and clinical implications.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9, and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 in conjunctival melanomas and their correlations with clinicopathologic parameters and prognosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen conjunctival melanoma tissue samples and nine conjunctival nevus tissue samples were stained immunohistochemically for MMP-2, MMP-9, and TIMP-1. Association of MMP-2, MMP-9, and TIMP-1 expression in melanoma tissues with clinical progression in terms of metastasis, recurrence, mitotic index, thickness, base diameter, and invasion depth was analyzed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the melanoma group, 78.6% of samples showed a positive reaction for MMP-2, 85.7% for MMP-9, and 100% for TIMP-1. In the nevus group, 11.1% showed a positive reaction for MMP-2, 66.7% for MMP-9, and 100% for TIMP-1. MMP-2 expression was significantly more induced in conjunctival melanoma than in benign nevi (P = 0.002). In conjunctival melanoma, MMP-9 expression was higher in tumors >1.5 mm thick (P = 0.026) and TIMP-1 expression was higher in recurrent cases (P = 0.03). There was no significant correlation between the expression and metastasis during the follow-up period (mean, 5 years).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MMP-2, MMP-9, and TIMP-1 were expressed in the majority of conjunctival melanomas, and MMP-2 might play a role in the development and clinical behavior of conjunctival melanoma.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyoung Kyun
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Seoung Wan
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Chae
authors.forename: Kyung In
authors.initials: KI
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.forename: Yoon-Duck
authors.initials: YD
authors.lastname: Kim
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003230:Conjunctival Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008545:Melanoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9