Immunohistochemical expressions of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and Vimentin in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

ABSTRACT
Background: Squamous cell carcinoma is a malignant neoplasm of stratified squamous epithelium; it occurs in
different sites and has potential destructive growth and invasive with distant metastasis. The aims of the study were
to evaluate the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and Vimentin immunohistochemistry and to correlate them
with the clinicopathological parameters in oral squamous cell carcinoma.
Materials and methods: twenty prospective and eleven retrospective paraffin- embedded formalin- fixed blocks of
oral squamous cell carcinoma were included in this study. Haematoxylin & Eosin stain (H & E) and
immunohistochemical staining was done by using monoclonal antibodies for anti-matrix metalloproteinase and anti-
Vimentin.
Results: positive immunohistochemical staining for MMP-9 was seen in 100% of collective cases while it was seen in
93.5% for Vimentin.
Conclusions:There was no correlation found between the two markers. MMP-9 expression was found in all cases with
no correlation with clinicopathological parameters so it can be used as a diagnostic tumor marker rather than a
prognostic marker. Vimentin was expressed in most OSCC cases with significant correlation with tumor size and
stage. Vimentin can be used as a good prognostic tumor marker.
Key word: Oral squamous cell carcinoma, Matrix metalloproteinase-9, Vimentin. (J Bagh Coll Dentistry 2009; 21(4):
54-58).