Overexpression of MMP‐2 in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma: A potential indicator for poor prognosis

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Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the expression and clinical significance of gelatinases (MMP‐2 and MMP‐9) in patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC).STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: In a retrospective study of 72 consecutive patients with LSCC hospitalized in a single cancer center, immunohisto‐chemistry was used to examine the expression of MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 in surgical samples. The results were compared to clinicopathological features and prognosis.RESULTS: The positive expression of MMP‐2 and MMP‐9 in patients with LSCC was 50% (36/72) and 73.6% (53/72), respectively. According to the expression scale, there were 36 patients of ‐, 26 patients of +, 7 patients of + +, and 3 patients of + + + expression of MMP‐2; 19 patients of ‐, 26 patients of +,16 patients of ++, and 11 patients of + + + expression of MMP‐9. There was no significant relationship found between the expression of MMP‐2 or MMP‐9 and clinicopathological features of LSCC, such as histological grade, primary site, T stage, N stage, and clinical stage. The 5‐year overall survival (OS) and disease‐free survival (DFS) rate calculated by Kaplan‐Meier method in patients with negative and positive expression of MMP‐9 and MMP‐2 was 73.68%, 50.94%, 73.68%, and 49.06% in MMP‐9 and 72.22%, 41.67%, 72.22%, and 38.89% in MMP‐2, respectively. Significant 5‐year survival difference was found between patients with negative and positive expression of MMP‐2 (log rank = 6.74, P = 0.0094). There was significant lower survival rate in patients with higher positive expression of MMP‐2 (log rank = 11.77, P = 0.0028). In glottic laryngeal cancer, positive expression of MMP‐2 could predict poor survival and was more likely to present primary recurrence.CONCLUSION: The expression of MMP‐2 could be used as a potential predictor for poor prognosis in patients with LSCC.