Serum Level of Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 in Patients with Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
BACKGROUND
Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is characterized by the upregulation of a large number of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). The aim of the study was to investigate the level of MMP-9 in the sera of HNSCC patients and its relationship to clinicopathological features.


METHODS
Serum samples from sixty-five patients (56M/9F, 59.11 ± 9.02 years) with HNSCC were quantitatively measured by ELISA assay, before and two days after surgery. Forty healthy volunteers served as controls (29M/ 11F, 56.21 ± 12.13 years).


RESULTS
Median serum concentrations of MMP-9 were consistently upregulated in HNSCC patients both preoperatively (1593.0 ng/mL, IQR: 833.0 - 1942.0 ng/mL) and postoperatively (1382.0 ng/mL, IQR: 778.6 - 2062.0 ng/mL) in comparison to healthy controls (291.3 ng/mL, IQR: 223.8 - 330.5 ng/mL) (p < 0.001). Pretreatment levels of MMP-9 were related to the size of primary tumor (p = 0.018) and lymph node involvement (p = 0.045). No statistically significant association was found between serum MMP-9 concentrations and clinical stage or degree of differentiation of the tumor cells.


CONCLUSIONS
Serum MMP-9 level could be used as a diagnostic tool for early detection of HNSCC and for determining prognosis. Moreover, our results suggest that MMP-9 might be a good marker in evaluating the size of the primary tumor and lymph node involvement. Further studies are needed to show whether MMP-9 could serve as a marker for recurrence.
Adina E
AE
Stanciu
Adina
A
Zamfir-Chiru-Anton
Marcel M
MM
Stanciu
Cristian R
CR
Popescu
Dan C
DC
Gheorghe
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9