Abstract
Extracellular matrix degradation by matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) plays a pivotal role in cancer progression by promoting motility, invasion and angiogenesis. Studies have shown that MMP expression is increased in head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs), one of the most common cancers in the world, and contributes to poor outcome. In this review, we examine the expression pattern of MMPs in HNSCC by microarray datasets and summarize the current knowledge of MMPs, specifically MMP-1, -3, -7 -10, -12, -13, 14 and -19, that are highly expressed in HNSCCs and involved cancer invasion and angiogenesis.
Highlights
Cancer is a major disease and cause of death in the world
A recent report by Dey et al identified part of the mechanism of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)-7 transcriptional regulation [54]. They clearly showed that high MMP-7-expressing breast cancer had relatively low phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) levels both in clinical cases and cell lines, and the high levels of MMP-7 expression and enzymatic activity were abrogated by inhibition of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), which is as main target of PTEN
Twenty-three percent of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) have PTEN mutations as determined by detailed exon sequencing [55,56,57]. These findings suggest that MMP-7 overexpression in many HNSCC cases may be regulated by PTEN mutation
Summary
Cancer is a major disease and cause of death in the world. Over 1.5 million people in the United. Metastatic dissemination of HNSCCs initially occurs to the regional lymph nodes in the neck, and high mortality and poor prognosis of HNSCCs are predicted by Cancers 2014, 6 occurrence of lymph node metastasis [3]. There is a pressing need for new therapeutic interventions that target invasive and metastatic HNSCCs. The extracellular matrix (ECM) undergoes significant remodeling during tumor progression, which is mediated largely by extracellular proteinases, the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) [4]. MMPs represent a family of zinc-dependent proteinases, which degrade ECM components, such as collagens and proteoglycans, and they have a role in normal development and tissue damage in various pathophysiological conditions such as arthritis and wound healing and in tumor development [5]. MMPs have been implicated in the promotion of tumor invasion and metastasis for decades [6]. More than 20 different human MMPs have been identified [7], and many MMPs are expressed and contribute to HNSCC progression [8,9]
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