Expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in 53 Cases of Salivary Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma and Its Relationship with Invasion and Metastasis

Purpose To study the patterns of the expression of MMP?2 and MMP?9 in human salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma and evaluate the relationship between the expression and nerve invasion and lymph node metastasis. Methods The immunohistochemical location of MMP?2 and MMP?9 was evaluated by using Envision immunoperoxidase technique.Studies were performed in 53 surgical excised specimens.The immunohistochemical staining results were densitometrically semiquantitatived. Results The expressions of MMP?2 and MMP?9 in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma were 67.92% and 79.25% respectively.The MMP?2 and MMP?9 levels in salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma with nerve invasion were much higher than those without invasion( P 0.05, P 0.05 respectively),and the percentage of lymph node metastasis rose with the change of MMP?2 and MMP?9 ( P 0.05, P 0.05 respectively). Conclusions The results indicate that the rise of MMP?2 and MMP?9 correlate with the nerve invasion and lymph node metastasis.