VASCONCELOS, Lianne D'Oleron Lima; MOREIRA, Nathalia Vieitez Rodrigues; SILVA, Leorik Pereira da    SOBRAL, Ana Paula Veras. Expression of matrix metalloproteinase 9 in oral squamous cell carcinoma. Rev. cir. traumatol. buco-maxilo-fac. []. 2013, 13, 4, pp. 89-94. ISSN 1808-5210.

The metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) or gelatinase B belongs to the family of matrix metalloproteinases, enzymes which degrade extracellular matrix (ECM) and basement membrane components and are implicated in the carcinogenesis process, contributing to tumor progression, invasion and metastasis. In this work, MMP-9 was used as an immunohistochemical marker in order to correlate its expression with histological grading of 28 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) obtained from the Laboratory of Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry of Pernambuco (FOP / UPE). The samples were classified according to the malignancy grade as in situ carcinoma, low grade, intermediate grade and high grade of malignancy. The immunohistochemistry technique was performed by the streptavidin-biotin method using the antibody anti-MMP9. The statistical analysis used the Fisher's exact test, with a significance level of p=0.05. It was verified that MMP-9 expression was positive in 24 OSCC cases (85.7%). Significant statistical correlation was observed between the expression of MMP-9 and the degree of malignancy (p=0.002). The results indicate that expression of MMP-9 may be suggested as a predictor of aggressive biological behavior in OSCC.

: Carcinoma; Squamous Cell.; Mouth Neoplasms.; Immunohistochemistry.; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9..