title: Immunoexpression of matrix metalloproteinases and their inhibitors in different areas of oral squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several studies have shown the participation of MMPs in oral squamous cell carcinoma, the most frequent malignant neoplasm of the oral cavity. The expression of some MMPs correlates with a more aggressive biological behaviour. The objective of this study was to determine which MMPs and TIMPs were expressed in both neoplastic and peritumoural stromal cells in different histopathology areas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients who underwent primary tumour neck dissection for oral squamous cell carcinoma were included. Immunoexpression of MMP-1, -2, -3, -7, -9, -11, -13, and TIMP-1 and -2 in different areas of pathologic specimens (in situ carcinoma, primary tumour, invasive front, distant invasion carcinoma, and lymph node metastasis) was evaluated. Enzyme expression on mucosa adjacent to tumour served as control.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty cases were included. Only 6 MMPs and 1 TIMP were expressed in the studied areas. Statistically significant differences in the number of cases with positive MMPs or TIMP expression, in both neoplastic and peritumoural cells, between control and the rest of the areas were observed. MMP-2 expression was constant in the areas with a more aggressive biological behaviour.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  MMP-2 expression may represent a dynamic interaction between host and tumour that favours the establishment of neoplastic cells at distant sites.
authors.affiliation: Pathology Department, National Cancer Institute, Ministry of Health, Mexico.
authors.forename: M L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Suarez-Roa
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Asbun-Bojalil
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Godoy
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Meneses-García
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D014411:Neoplastic Stem Cells / Q000201:enzymology*; D011379:Prognosis; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases