Correlation between expression of extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer and matrix metalloproteinase-2 and cervical lymph node metastasis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the expression of extracellular matrix metalloproteinase inducer (EMMPRIN) and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) and studied their relationship with cervical lymph node metastasis. METHODS: Immunohistochemical staining was used to detect the expression of EMMPRIN and MMP-2 in specimens from patients with chronic nasopharyngitis (CN), nonmetastastic NPC (NM-NPC), and lymph node-metastatic NPC (LNM-NPC). RESULTS: The rates of positive EMMPRIN expression in CN, NM-NPC, and LNM-NPC were 13.3%, 30.0%, and 66.7%, respectively. Significant differences were found between the rates in CN and LNM-NPC (p <0.01) and between the rates in NM-NPC and LNM-NPC (p = 0.01). In the LNM-NPC group, NPC cells had a higher rate of expression of EMMPRIN in tumor metastases than in the primary tumor (81.8% versus 66.7%; p = 0.01). The rates of positive MMP-2 expression in CN, NM-NPC, and LNM-NPC were 13.3%, 35.0%, and 60.6%, respectively. A significant difference was found between the rates in CN and LNM-NPC (p < 0.01). In the LNM-NPC group, NPC cells had a higher rate of MMP-2 expression in tumor metastases than in the primary tumor (72.7% versus 60.6%; p <0.01). The expressions of MMP-2 and EMMPRIN were highly correlated (rs = 0.466; p <0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells may attain enhanced metastastic capability through the expression of MMP-2 induced by EMMPRIN.

The usefulness of cytodiagnosis and DNA cytometry on nasopharyngeal brush smears for the diagnosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

BACKGROUND: To assess the usefulness of combining cytodiagnosis and DNA cytometry on nasopharyngeal brush samples for the detection of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). METHODS: DNA ploidy analysis was undertaken on 66 nasopharyngeal brush samples that had been previously evaluated cytologically. RESULTS: Cytodiagnosis and ploidy analysis demonstrated a sensitivity of 66% and 55%, respectively. Both techniques had a specificity of 100% for NPC cases that were histologically confirmed. The negative predictive values for cytodiagnosis and ploidy analysis were 29% and 24%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The sensitivity and specificity for cytodiagnosis were not improved by the addition of DNA ploidy analysis. Furthermore, combining the two techniques did not confer any significant advantage compared with the use of cytology and DNA ploidy alone. The relatively low negative predictive values are a significant limitation, and combining cytodiagnosis and ploidy analysis on nasopharyngeal brush samples cannot be recommended for the detection of NPC.