title: Up-regulation of cyclooxygenase 2 and matrix metalloproteinases-2 and -9 in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma: active role of inflammation and tissue remodeling in carcinogenesis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tissue inflammation and remodeling have been extensively studied in various tumors in relation with their invasiveness and metastasis.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to investigate the change in tissue inflammation and remodeling markers in cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  Expression levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) as an inflammatory marker and matrix metalloproteinases-2 and -9 (MMPs 2/9) as remodeling markers were studied in mouse and human SCCs. Western blot analysis and RT-PCR for COX-2 and MMPs 2/9 were performed with skin samples from SCC patients and chronic ultraviolet B (UVB)-induced SCC from hairless mice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  mRNA and protein levels of COX-2 and MMPs 2/9 were up-regulated with the higher sensitivity for MMP-9 in mouse SCCs, which were induced by chronic UVB irradiation. Consistently, COX-2 and MMPs 2/9 were up-regulated with the higher sensitivity for MMP-9 in human SCCs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  COX-2 and MMPs 2/9 are up-regulated in well-differentiated cutanous SCC. Our findings indicate that inflammatory and tissue remodeling processes are actively induced during carcinogenesis of cutaneous SCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Chonnam National University Medical School, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jeong-Hoon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Mei Shan
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Piao
authors.forename: Jee-Young
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.forename: Sook Jung
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Yun
authors.forename: Jee-Bum
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Seung-Chul
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Lee
keywords: Cyclooxygenase 2; MMP-2; MMP-9; SCC