Zhou, C.X., Gao, Y., Johnson, N.W., and Gao, J. (2010) Immunoexpression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in the metastasis of squamous cell carcinoma of the human tongue. Australian Dental Journal, 55 (4). pp. 385-389.

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Abstract

Background: Squamous cell carcinoma of the tongue has frequent lymph node metastases and poor prognosis. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) are reported to degrade basement membrane, facilitating invasion and metastasis. This study determined the expression of MMP-2/MMP-9 in primary tongue cancer with or without cervical metastases and analysed the significance of such expression in relation to the presence or absence of metastases.

Methods: Expressions of MMP-2/MMP-9 were detected by immunohistochemistry in 10 specimens of normal oral mucosa, 20 lymph node-negative tongue cancers, 41 lymph node-positive tongue cancers and their metastasized tumours in cervical lymph nodes.

Results: MMP-2/MMP-9 expression was seldom found in normal epithelium. In lymph node-negative tongue cancer, 45% and 40% of these primary tumours were positively stained for MMP-2/MMP-9, respectively. Importantly, in lymph node-positive tongue cancer, 71% and 79% of these primary tumours were positive for MMP-2/MMP-9, respectively. Overexpression of MMP-2/MMP-9 was present in the metastatic lymph nodes.

Conclusions: Our results imply that MMP-2 and/or MMP-9 play an important role in invasion and metastasis in tongue cancer, and that analysis of MMP expression and/or activity in primary tumours may have a predictive value for the actual or potential presence of cervical metastases.

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