title: Ameloblastic neoplasia spectrum: a cross-sectional study of MMPS expression and proliferative activity.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the proliferation and the expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs; MMP-2 and MMP-9) in solid and unicystic ameloblastomas with ameloblastic carcinomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Five cases of ameloblastic carcinoma (AC), 18 cases of solid ameloblastoma (SA), and seven of unicystic ameloblastoma (UA) were selected. The immunohistochemical expression of MMPs was assessed by the percentage of positive tumor cells and stained stroma. The mean argyrophilic nucleolar organizer region (AgNOR) and the percentage of cells with more than one AgNOR per nucleus were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Statistically significant higher mean AgNOR was observed in AC than in SA and UA. MMP-2 was expressed similarly in tumor and stroma among groups. MMP-9 was higher in the stroma of SA than that of UA (P = .0484).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The cell proliferation was related to the greater aggressiveness of AC. High expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in all lesions highlighted the importance of these enzymes in the biology of ameloblastic tumors.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alessandra Dutra
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: da Silva
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Thaíse Gomes E
authors.initials: TG
authors.lastname: Nóbrega
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Annemarie Warstat
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Saudades
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, Universidad del Uruguay - Montevideo, Montevideo, Uruguay.
authors.forename: Maria Inês
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Otero
authors.affiliation: Biotechnologist, Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Chris Krebs
authors.initials: CK
authors.lastname: Danilevicz
authors.affiliation: Pharmacist, Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Alessandra Selinger
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Magnusson
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Ana Luisa
authors.initials: AL
authors.lastname: Saraiva Homem de Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Pantelis Varvaki
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Rados
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Vinicius Coelho
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Carrard
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil. Electronic address: Fernandavisioli@ufrgs.br.
authors.forename: Fernanda
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Visioli
authors.affiliation: Department of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
authors.forename: Manoel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sant'Ana Filho
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000564:Ameloblastoma / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism; D001938:Brazil; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008339:Mandibular Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9