title: Expression of MMP-1/PAR-1 and patterns of invasion in oral squamous cell carcinoma as potential prognostic markers.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 degrades type I collagen of the extracellular matrix and also activates protease activated receptor (PAR)-1 to induce angiogenesis. The aims of this study were to evaluate microvessel density (MVD) and the expression of PAR-1 and MMP-1 in oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) specimens with different patterns of invasion (POI) and to evaluate their association with clinical outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seventy-four surgically obtained oral SCC samples were classified by POI according to hematoxylin-eosin staining. MVD and the localization and intensity of PAR-1 and MMP-1 expression were detected by immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 74 oral SCC samples, 18, 5, 34, and 17 showed type I, II, III, and IV POI, respectively. MVD and expression levels of MMP-1 and PAR-1 differed between POI types I-II and POI types III-IV. Patients with low tumor expression of MMP-1 and PAR-1 and low MVD had a longer survival time than those with high tumor expression of MMP-1 and PAR-1. Moreover, the survival time of patients with POI types III-IV was shorter than that of patients with POI types I-II.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  POI combined with expression levels of MMP-1 and PAR-1 may be a valuable tool for assessing the clinical prognosis of patients with oral SCC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Basic Medical Science College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Hai-Xia
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Basic Medical Science College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Basic Medical Science College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Bo-Xiong
authors.initials: BX
authors.lastname: Ni
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Basic Medical Science College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Shan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Stomatological Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Miao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Stomatological Hospital, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Dong
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, Basic Medical Science College, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Jin-Hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Zheng
keywords: clinical outcomes; immunohistochemistry; oral squamous cell carcinoma; pattern of invasion