Abstract:

Objective　To detect protein expression of MMPs and TIMPs in various salivary gland neoplasms and to investigate their roles in invasion and metastasis of the malignant salivary gland tumors.Methods　Immunohistochemistry and Gelatin zymog- raphy analyses for MMP-2, MMP-9, MT1-MMP, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 were performed in 26 malignant and 28 benign salivary gland tumors.Results　The expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 was significantly higher in carcinomas than in adenomas(P< 0·05). TheMMP-2/TIMP-1 andMMP-2/TIMP-2 was also significantly higher in carcinomas than in adenomas(P<0·05). There was a cooperated effect among MMP-2, MT1-MMP and TIMP-2. The expression of active MMP-2, proMMP-9 and active MMP-9 was significantly higher in malignant tumors than in benign tumors (P<0·05).Conclusion　MMP-2 and MMP-9 may play im- portant roles in invasion ofmalignant salivary gland tumors. Adisturbed balance betweenMMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1 andTIMP-2 in malignant salivary gland tumors was detected. It was the absolute increase of MMP-2 and MMP-9 to induce the unbalance.

Key words: matrix metalloproteinases, tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase, salivary gland tumor