title: Protein Expression of Stromelysin-2 in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinomas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Some matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in invasion and metastasis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). However, there are few studies on association between stromelysin-2 (ST-2) and invasive behavior of HNSCC. The purpose of this study was to investigate Stromelysin-2 expression by immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted on 81 specimens, including 61 HNSCC and 20 non neoplastic epithelium. Sections with 5 micron thickness were prepared and stained with immunohistochemistry technique. Then expression of ST-2 was evaluated according to percentage of stained cells and intensity of staining. Data were analyzed by SPSS (V.21) using Kruskal-Wallis and Tukey tests (P<0.05).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 61 HNSCC specimens were grades I 36.1%, II 34.4% and III 29.5%. The level of ST-2 expressions were moderate (++) and intensive (+++) in 21.3% and 78.7% of tumors, respectively. The ST-2 expression level was only significant between the tumors with grade I and grade III (P=0.016). Tumors presented ST-2 expression with staining intensity of mild 6.6%, moderate 26.2% and strong 67.2%. Staining intensity of ST-2 in grade I tumors was significantly lower than grade II and grade III (P<0.05), and there was no significant difference between grades II and III (P=0.99).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  According to this study, the expression of ST-2 is associated with histopathological grade and tumor differentiation in HNSCCs.
authors.affiliation: Oral and Dental Disease Research Center, Dept of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, School of Dentistry, Zahedan University of Medical Sciences, Zahedan, Iran E-mail : Shirin.Saravani@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Hamideh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kadeh
authors.forename: Fatemeh
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Heydari
authors.forename: Shirin
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saravani
authors.forename: Iman Najafi
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Ghodsi
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008297:Male; D053506:Matrix Metalloproteinase 10 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis / Q000473:pathology; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck
chemical_list: C511770:MMP10 protein, human; D053506:Matrix Metalloproteinase 10