title: Immunoexpression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in the metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma of the human tongue.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue has frequent lymph node metastases and poor prognosis. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) are reported to degrade basement membrane,facilitating invasion and metastasis. This study determined the expression of MMP-2/MMP-9 in primary tongue cancer with or without cervical metastases and analysed the significance of such expression in relation to the presence or absence of metastases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Expressions of MMP-2⁄MMP-9 were detected by immunohistochemistry in 10 specimens of normal oral mucosa, 20 lymph node-negative tongue cancers, 41 lymph node-positive tongue cancers and their metastasized tumours in cervical lymph nodes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MMP-2⁄MMP-9 expression was seldom found in normal epithelium. In lymph node-negative tongue cancer, 45% and 40% of these primary tumours were positively stained for MMP-2⁄MMP-9, respectively. Importantly, in lymph node-positive tongue cancer, 71% and 79% of these primary tumours were positive for MMP-2⁄MMP-9, respectively. Overexpression of MMP-2⁄MMP-9 was present in the metastatic lymph nodes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results imply that MMP-2 and/or MMP-9 play an important role in invasion and metastasis in tongue cancer, and that analysis of MMP expression and/or activity in primary tumours may have a predictive value for the actual or potential presence of cervical metastases.
authors.affiliation: School of Dentistry and Oral Health and Griffith Health Institute, Gold Coast Campus, Griffith University, Southport, Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: C X
authors.initials: CX
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Gao
authors.forename: N W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Johnson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Gao
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000556:secondary*; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000201:enzymology; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000235:genetics*; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000096:biosynthesis* / Q000235:genetics; D008875:Middle Aged; D009333:Neck; D011379:Prognosis; D014062:Tongue Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9