title: Expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in odontogenic myxoma in a child: report of a clinical case.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Odontogenic myxoma (OM) is a benign, locally invasive, non-metastasizing neoplasm of the jaw bones. Despite the benign nature of these lesions, there is a high rate of recurrence and the current recommended therapy, depending on the size and behaviour of the lesion, can vary from curettage with peripheral ostectomy, segmental resection up to radical resections for more aggressive lesions. OM is a rare tumour which occurs predominantly in the third decade of life and it is rare in children. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of extracellular endopeptidases responsible for the degradation and remodelling of extracellular matrix, they are known to be involved in the progression and invasiveness of many types of tumour. MMPs have been studied in OM because of their well-known role in extracellular matrix degradation, tumour invasion and recurrence.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report a case of OM in a 6-year-old boy. A conservative excision was accomplished. The mass was excised without affecting the mandibular bone and the inferior alveolar nerve. Curettage and removal of the first right inferior molar were performed. After 6-month follow-up, no evidence of recurrence was found.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in this case of OM in a child. RT-PCR showed the expression of both MMP-2 and MMP-9 mRNAs. Immunohistochemistry showed a weak MMP-2 protein expression while MMP-9 protein was not detected.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this case of OM in a child, we report lack of recurrence after excision associated with low MMP-2 protein expression and absence of MMP-9. We believe it is worthy to deeply investigate the relationship between MMPs expression and OM behaviour with the aim to use MMPs as prognostic and/or therapeutic markers in OM.
authors.affiliation: BioNeC, Dipartimento di Biomedicina Sperimentale e Neuroscienze Cliniche, Sezione di Istologia ed Embriologia "Arcangelo Pasqualino di Marineo", Facoltà di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università degli Studi di Palermo, Via del Vespro 129, 90127, Palermo, Italy, a.mauro@unipa.it.
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mauro
authors.forename: Luana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lipari
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tortorici
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Leone
authors.forename: Aldo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gerbino
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Buscemi
mesh_terms: D001483:Base Sequence; D002648:Child; D017931:DNA Primers; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D009232:Myxoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D009808:Odontogenic Tumors / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D020133:Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9