A multicenter study on expressions of vascular endothelial growth factor, matrix metallopeptidase-9 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 in oral and maxillofacial squamous cell carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), matrix metallopeptidase-9 (MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) are potential markers of oral and maxillofacial squamous cell carcinoma (SCC).


OBJECTIVE
To explore the association between expression of VEGF, MMP-9 and TIMP-2 in oral and maxillofacial SCC and clinicopathological factors.


METHODS
Immunohistochemical Envision method was used to analyze the expression of VEGF, MMP-9 and TIMP-2 in 54 cases of oral and maxillofacial SCC and the association with clinicopathological factors such as clinical staging and lymphatic metastasis.


RESULTS
Brownish-yellow staining is correlated with positive expression of VEGF, MMP-9 and TIMP-2. Positive expression of VEGF and MMP-9 was correlated with lymphatic metastasis, and their positive expression rates were significantly higher in patients with lymphatic metastasis than those without it (VEGF: χ(2) = 30.00; P = 0.001; MMP-9: χ(2) = 18.27, P = 0.001). The positive expression rate of MMP-9 decreased at earlier clinical stages (P < 0.05). Positive expression of TIMP-2 was correlated with lymphatic metastasis, clinical staging and T classification. The positive rate of TIMP-2 expression in patients with lymphatic metastasis was significantly lower than those without it (χ(2) = 26.74, P = 0.002), which significantly reduced with increasing clinical stage and T classification (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Lymphatic metastasis in patients with oral and maxillofacial SCC is closely related to the positive expression of VEGF, MMP-9 and TIMP-2. MMP-9 and TIMP-2 can affect the progression of cancer, which is valuable for studies on oral and maxillofacial SCC genes.
Department of Oral Implantology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning Medical University, Jinzhou, China.
Min
M
Li
Department of Oral Implantology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning Medical University, Jinzhou, China.
Zhiying
Z
Wang
Jinzhou City Oral Cavity Hospital, Jinzhou, China.
Yang
Y
Xing
Department of Prosthodontics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning Medical University, Jinzhou, China.
Jin
J
Yu
Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Second Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning Medical University, Jinzhou, China.
Luming
L
Tian
Department of Stomatology, Hospital of Liaoning University of Technology, Jinzhou, China.
Dianming
D
Zhang
Department of Prosthodontics, Second Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning Medical University, Jinzhou, China.
Zengxi
Z
Xin
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; Oral Surgical Procedures; Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A