Abstract:

Objective:This study is aim atinvestigating the relationship between the expression and activity ofMMP-2,9, TIMP-1,2 and the metastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma to neck lymph node.Methods:The expression ofMMP-2,9, TIMP-1,2 in 30 oral squamous cell carcinoma, two oral squamous cell carcinoma cell lines GNM and TSCCa was detected by in situ hubridization; Zomography was performed to determined the activity of MMP-2,9 in cancer tissue and conditioned medium of GNM and TSCCa; Ability of invasion ofGNMand TSCCawasmeasuredwith in vitro invasion assays.Results:Both tumor cells and stroma expressed both MMP-2,9 and TIMP-1,2; Itwas found thatMMP-2,9, TIMP-1,2 had a higher expression in patientswith neck lymph node metastasis than those without metastasis (P<0105), positive percentage of MMP-2,9 in GNM was higher than that in TSCCa; The MMP-2,9 in node-positive patients was more active than in node-negative ones (P<0105); GNM had more active MMP-2, 9 and higher invasive potential thanTSCCa.Conclusion:MMP-2,9 may play an important role inmetastasis of oral squamous cell carcinoma; Elevation of TIMP-1,2 is likely to be the result of interaction of tumor and stroma.

Key words: oral squamous cell carcinoma, metastasis matrix metalloproteinases, tissue inhibitor of MMPs