Metaanalysis of the significance of matrix metalloproteinases for lymph node disease in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract

Objective: To study the reliability of the sentinel node technique (SNT) in the management of the N0 neck in patients with supraglottic laryngeal cancer. Methods: Patients presenting to our department, between 2001 and 2004, with T1–T3 supraglottic cancer and N0 neck, clinically and radiologically, were included in the study. All patients underwent sentinel lymph node detection, using the hand‐held gamma probe followed by bilateral modified radical neck dissection (MRND) and resection of the primary tumor. We compared the results of the SNT with those of the gold standard MRND for the staging of the neck. The histologic examination was performed after fixation for both the products of SNT and MRND. Results: Twenty‐nine patients were included in the study. Twenty‐one had T2, 2 had T1, and 6 had T3 tumors. Patients had transoral CO2 laser‐assisted resection of the primary tumor. All the patients underwent bilateral neck dissection immediately after the sentinel node biopsy. Of the 95 sentinel lymph nodes harvested, 22 were positive for lymph node metastasis. The mean number of sentinel node per patient was 3. Of the 58 modified neck dissections (2 neck sides/patient), there was 1 additional positive lymph node, in the prelaryngeal area, and the patient had already positive sentinel lymph nodes. The SNT allowed the identification of node metastasis in 100% of the cases with a sensitivity of 100 (48–100), specificity of 78 (64–88), negative predictive value of 100 (91–100). Conclusions: SNT is reliable in the staging of the clinically N0 neck in patients with supraglottic cancer. Laryngoscope, 2010

Distinct progression‐associated expression of tumor and stromal MMPs in HaCaT skin SCCs correlates with onset of invasion

“…This idea is further supported by data showing a reduced vascular density in chemically induced skin SCCs of MMP-3-deficient mice suggesting this protease as an important modulator of tumor vascularization and, thus, playing a potential role in this mechanism regulating tumor metastasis. 51,52 Taken together, our data show a clear dynamics of MMP expression associated with tumor progression and point out the complexity of MMP functions in vivo. Tumor cells migrating from the primary tumor border are interacting with the broad range of host-derived factors, most of which have evolved or are directed to defend the integrity of different host systems.…”

MMP-2 expression in 102 patients with glottic laryngeal cancer

“…On the contrary, Görögh et al [4] and O-Charoenrat et al [14] reported positive correlation between MMP-2 expression and nodal involvement, as has Xie et al [15] although specifically for Supraglottic laryngeal carcinoma. Regarding the different results reported, the metaanalysis on MMP expression and [16] should be taken into account which is supportive of the role of MMP-2 in tumor invasiveness, although stating a variety of shortcomings of the respective literature. Although MMP-2 expression was not related to nodal involvement, statistical significance was reached in our study for ruptured lymph node capsule in the small subgroup of patients who underwent neck dissection.…”

Matrix metalloproteinases in head and neck cancer: current perspectives

“…Standardization of staining procedures and evaluation protocols does help to compare the variability of published data and extract valid results. 126 Nevertheless, the existence of a considerable number of conflicting studies should be acknowledged, as well as the possibility that some studies indicating negative MMP expression in tumors are unlikely to be published. 50 In spite of these limitations, results of several studies evaluating MMP expression in HNSCCs provide insight into their prognostic importance.…”