title: MMP-7, MMP-8, and MMP-9 in oral and cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) are epithelial neoplasms, of which OSCC has a worse prognosis. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in the initiation, invasion, metastasis, and defense of cancer. This study aimed to compare differences in MMP expression in these cancers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Sixty-one patients with early-stage (T1-T2 N0 M0) cancers, of which 36 were OSCC and 25 CSCC, were enrolled into this study. Immunohistochemical staining was performed with MMP-7, MMP-8, and MMP-9 antibodies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  MMP-7 expression was stronger in OSCC than in CSCC, mainly in the invasive front. MMP-8 was absent and MMP-9 was mildly expressed in OSCC and CSCC cells. However, MMP-8 and MMP-9 were positive in peritumoral inflammatory cells in both cancers. In addition, MMP-7, MMP-8, and MMP-9 were not associated with the overall survival of patients with OSCC and CSCC patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The increased expression of MMP-7 in the invasive front may partly explain the aggressiveness of OSCC.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Dentistry, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland. Electronic address: Abdirisak.Ahmed@helsinki.fi.
authors.forename: Abdirisak
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahmed Haji Omar
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland; Research Programs Unit, Translational Cancer Biology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Caj
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Haglund
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Susanna
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Virolainen
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Valtteri
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Häyry
authors.affiliation: Department of Otorhinolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Atula
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Diseases, Helsinki University Central Hospital, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Risto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kontio
authors.affiliation: Institute of Dentistry, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Medical Research Center Oulu, University of Oulu, Oulu, Finland.
authors.forename: Tuula
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Salo
authors.affiliation: Institute of Dentistry, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Division of Periodontology, Department of Dental Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge, Sweden.
authors.forename: Timo
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Sorsa
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Haartman Institute, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland; Department of Oral Pathology, Institute of Dentistry, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: Jaana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hagström
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000201:enzymology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7 / Q000378:metabolism*; D020784:Matrix Metalloproteinase 8 / Q000378:metabolism*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D020783:Matrix Metalloproteinase 7; D020784:Matrix Metalloproteinase 8; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9