title: Serum and saliva collagenase-3 (MMP-13) in patients with oral lichen planus and oral squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Oral lichen planus (OLP) has been classified as a pre-malignant condition. Matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) or collagenase-3 may play a key role in cancer development. The aim of this study was to compare serum and saliva MMP-13 between patients with oral lichen planus (OLP) and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).
  
  
  METHODS
  This cross sectional study was performed on 30 patients with OLP (8 reticular and 22 erosive forms) and 20 patients with OSCC (6 in low stage and 14 in advanced stage) who were selected randomly. The study was conducted at the Cancer Department, Clinic of Oral Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences. The serum and saliva MMP-13 were assayed by ELISA method. Statistical analysis of the Student's t-test, ANOVA and Pearson correlation coefficient was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences in mean saliva and serum levels of MMP-13 between patients with OSCC and OLP and their subgroups. Serum MMP-13 correlated significantly with unstimulated (r = 0.307, p= 0.048), but not with stimulated, saliva MMP-13.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Serum and saliva MMP-13 levels appear to be statistically similar in OLP and OSCC.
authors.affiliation: DDS, MSc, Fellowship of Research Biology, Professor, Dental Research Center, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Medicine, School of Dentistry, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, The Academy of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. aghahose@sina.tums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Farzaneh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Agha-Hosseini
authors.affiliation: PhD, Professor, Department of Physiology, School of Medicine, Aja University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. emirzaii@razi.tums.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Iraj
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mirzaii-Dizgah
keywords: MMP-13; Oral lichen planus; Saliva; Squamous cell carcinoma