Correlation of matrix metalloproteinases-7 with the invasion, metastasis, and prognostic evaluation in laryngeal squamous cancer / 中国组织工程研究

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Matrix metalloproteinases-7 (MMP-7) plays an important role in the invasion and metastasis of cancer and is related to prognosis of many carcinomas.OBJECTIVE: To investigate the significance of MMP-7 expression in the invasion and metastasis of laryngeal cancer and explore the relationship between MMP-7 expression and the prognosis of laryngeal squamous cell cancer (LSCC).DEGIGN An open experimental study based on the cells.SETTING: Two otolaryngology departments of two university hospitals and one otolaryngology department of a municipal hospital.MATERIALS The experiment was conducted in the Center Laboratory of Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University from April 2002 to January 2003. The materials were laryngeal cancer and corresponding neighboring noncancerous tissues, MMP-7 antibody and immunohistochemical kit.METHODS: The expression of MMP-7 protein in 70 samples of paraffin-embedded LSCC and corresponding neighboring noncancerous tissues was detected with immunohistochemical technique. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction(RT-PCR) and Western blot technique were used to examine the expression of MMP-7 in 35 frozen specimens of LSCC and corresponding neighboring noncancerous tissues.MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The relationship of MMP-7 mRNA expression with the invasion depth(T grade), neck nodal metastasis and prognosis of LSCC.RESULTS: Immunohistochemical staining of MMP-7 was observed in 77.1% (54/70) of cancer tissues and in 5.7% (4/70) of neighboring noncancerous tissues( P ＜ 0.01) . The mRNA expression of MMP-7 was detected in 74.3% (24/35) of cancer tissues and in 5.7% (2/35) of neighboring noncancerous tissues( P ＜ 0.01 ). The expression of MMP-7 was higher in T3-T4 group than that in T1-T2 group(P ＜ 0.01), and was positively correlated with nodal metastasis( P ＜ 0. 01 ). Western blot showed that both 28 ku (latent form of MMP-7) and 19 ku(active form of MMP-7)bands had close relationship with T grade and neck nodal metastasis. Kaplan-Meier survival curve showed that the group with high MMP-7protein expression had poorer prognosis than the group with weak or negative MMP-7 protein expression(Log-rank = 4. 755 9, 8. 951 3; P = 0. 029 2,0.002 8).CONCLUSION: MMP-7 is closely correlated with the invasion, metastasis,and prognosis of LSCC, and it may serve as a marker in estimating the invasive and metastatic potency and prognosis of LSCC.