MMP-11 promoted the oral cancer migration and Fak/Src activation.

Chung-Han Hsin,Yi-Ting Chuang,Shih-Chi Su,Ying-Erh Chou,Shu-Hui Lin,Shun-Fa Yang,Chiao-Wen Lin

doi:10.18632/oncotarget.15824

Abstract

Matrix metalloproteinase-11 (MMP-11) has been observed in most invasive human carcinomas. The current study investigated the association between the clinicopathological characteristics and MMP-11 expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) staining was performed to assess MMP-11 expression in 279 patients with OSCC. In addition, the metastatic effects of the MMP-11 overexpression on the OSCC cells were also investigated. We found that MMP-11 expression was present in 118/279 (42.3%) cases and expression of MMP-11 was associated with higher incidence of lymph node metastasis and worse grade of tumor differentiation. Importantly, OSCC patients with strong expression of MMP-11 had a significantly lower survival rate (p=0.010). Furthermore, MMP-11 overexpression in OSCC cells increased in vitro cell migration. Mechanistically, MMP-11 increased the cell motility of OSCC cells through focal adhesion kinase/Src kinase (FAK/Src) pathway. In conclusion, our results revealed that the MMP-11 expression in OSCC samples can predict the progression, especially lymph node metastasis, and the survival of OSCC patients in Taiwan.

Highlights

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common malignancy of the head and neck worldwide and, in some Asian countries such as India and Taiwan, may accounting for more than 10% of all malignancies [1, 2]
The current study investigated the association between the clinicopathological characteristics and Matrix metalloproteinase-11 (MMP-11) expression in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients
We found that Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs)-11 expression was present in 118/279 (42.3%) cases and expression of MMP-11 was associated with higher incidence of lymph node metastasis and worse grade of tumor differentiation

Summary

Introduction

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common malignancy of the head and neck worldwide and, in some Asian countries such as India and Taiwan, may accounting for more than 10% of all malignancies [1, 2]. For patients with advanced diseases or pathologic risk factors, adjuvant radiotherapy and/or chemotherapy are parts of the standard treatments [5]. Despite ongoing advances in the surgical techniques and adjuvant therapies, the 5-year overall survival rate remains unfavorable in a considerable portion of OSCC patients because invasion of the neighboring tissues and metastasis to the neck lymph nodes are common [6, 7]. Identifying new biomarkers that can predict the risk of OSCC progression, especially local invasion and lymph node metastasis, is mandatory to improve the treatment of this deadly disease

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Results

Conclusion