title: Relationship between the Expression of Matrix Metalloproteinase and Clinicopathologic Features in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity is one of the most important and common types of head and neck malignancy, with an estimated rate of 4% among all human malignancies. The aim of this study was to determine the association between expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2 and 9 and the clinicopathological features of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred existing samples of formalin-fixed paraffin embedded specimens of OSCC were evaluated by immunohistochemistry staining for matrix metalloproteinase 2 and 9 antibodies. Samples were divided into four groups: negative, <10%, 10-50%, and >50%. Patient records were assessed for demographic characteristics such as age and gender, smoking and family history of OSCC as well as tumor features including location, differentiation, stage and lymph node involvement.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In this study, 58 patients (58%) were male and 42 (42%) female. The mean age of patients was 60.38±14.07 years. The average number of lymph nodes involved was 8.9±3.8. Tumoral grade, tumoral stage, lymphatic metastasis and history of smoking were significantly related to MMP2 and MMP9 expression.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study demonstrated that MMP2 and MMP9 expression are important in the development of OSCC.
authors.affiliation: Cancer Molecular Research Center , Ghaem Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Amir Hossein
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Jafarian
authors.affiliation: Solid Tumour Treatment Research Center, Omid Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Leila
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vazife Mostaan
authors.affiliation: Cancer Molecular Research Center , Ghaem Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Nema
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mohammadian Roshan
authors.affiliation: Solid Tumour Treatment Research Center, Omid Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Kamran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Khazaeni
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomicoclinical Pathology, Ghaem Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Shafagh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Parsazad
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomicoclinical Pathology, Ghaem Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences Mashhad, Iran.
authors.forename: Hamed
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gilan
keywords: Lymphatic metastasis; Matrix metalloproteinase; Oral squamous cell carcinoma