Conclusion: Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-20 is overexpressed in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) compared with the adjacent normal laryngeal epithelium and MMP-20 plays a role in lymph node metastasis. Overexpression of MMP-20 may be used as a significant prognostic factor for lymph node metastasis. All the findings indicate that MMP-20 may play a role in the initiation and progression of LSCC.
Objective: The MMPs are a gene family of zinc-dependent endopeptidases that have been implicated in tumor invasion and metastasis, and MMP-20 is a new member of the MMP family. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether MMP-20 is overexpressed in human LSCC and, if so, the significance of its overexpression in relation to clinical parameters.
Methods: We analyzed 33 cases of LSCC with RT-PCR and 73 cases of LSCC with immunohistochemistry compared with normal laryngeal epithelium.
Results: We found that MMP-20 is overexpresssed in LSCC compared with the adjacent normal laryngeal epithelium.