Immunohistochemical evaluation of MMP-2, MMP-9 and CD31/microvascular density in squamous cell carcinomas of the floor of the mouth

Author(s)

Flávio Monteiro-Amado ^[1] ; Igor Iuco Castro-Silva ^[2] ; Cristina Jardelino de Lima ^[3] ; Fernando Augusto Soares ^[4] ; Luiz Paulo Kowalski ^[5] ; José Mauro Granjeiro

Affiliation

^[1] USP - University of São Paulo. Hospital for Rehabilitation of Craniofacial Anomalies (HRAC) - Brasil

^[2] UFF - Fluminense Federal University. Dental School - Brasil

^[3] UFF - Fluminense Federal University. Dental School - Brasil

^[4] AC Camargo Cancer Hospital - Brasil

^[5] AC Camargo Cancer Hospital - Brasil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: Brazilian Dental Journal; v. 24, n. 1, p. 3-9, 2013-00-00.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate the immunoexpression of MMP-2, MMP-9 and CD31/microvascular density in squamous cell carcinomas of the floor of the mouth and to correlate the results with demographic, survival, clinical (TNM staging) and histopathological variables (tumor grade, perineural invasion, embolization and bone invasion). Data from medical records and diagnoses of 41 patients were reviewed. Histological sections were subjected to immunostaining using primary antibodies for human MMP-2, MMP-9 and CD31 and streptavidin-biotin-immunoperoxidase system. Histomorphometric analyses quantified positivity for MMPs (20 fields per slide, 100 points grade, ×200) and for CD31 (microvessels <50 µm in the area of the highest vascularization, 5 fields per slide, 100 points grade, ×400). Statistical design was composed by non-parametric Mann-Whitney U test (investigating the association between numerical variables and immunostainings), chi-square frequency test (in contingency tables), Fisher's exact test (when at least one expected frequency was less than 5 in 2×2 tables), Kaplan-Meier method (estimated probabilities of overall survival) and Iogrank test (comparison of survival curves), all with a significance level of 5%. There was a statistically significant correlation between immunostaining for MMP-2 and lymph node metastasis. Factors associated negatively with survival were N stage, histopathological grade, perineural invasion and immunostaining for MMP-9. There was no significant association between immunoexpression of CD31 and the other variables. The intensity of immunostaining for MMP-2 can be indicative of metastasis in lymph nodes and for MMP-9 of a lower probability of survival. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 01/10707-7 - Molecular bases of the control of cell proliferation and origin of neoplasms in the genomic and proteomic era
• Grantee: Mari Cleide Sogayar
• Support Opportunities: Research Projects - Thematic Grants