Expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-9, and tissue inhibitor of MMP (TIMP)-1 in conjunctival melanomas and clinical implications.
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.
Kim
Hyoung Kyun
HK
Department of Ophthalmology, Kangdong Sacred Heart Hospital, Hallym University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea.
Chae
Seoung Wan
SW
Woo
Kyung In
KI
Kim
Yoon-Duck
YD
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*
D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9