Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) as prospective histopathological and molecular biomarker for oral squamous cell carcinoma

Background: Despite the advance of therapeutic approaches, the morbidity and mortality of oral squamous cell carcinoma have not improved significantly. The invasion potential of oral squamous cell carcinoma is conferred by their ability to utilize Matrix metalloproteinase that are produced by the host’s stromal cells. In the present study an effort was made to analyse the role of clinical features and risk factors in the causation of oral squamous cell carcinoma and expression of Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) was studied in various grades of squamous cell carcinoma with its role in metastasis.Methods: The present study is an hospital based prospective study for a period of two years at the department of pathology from August 2014 to July 2016 consisting of 88 cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma. Tissue for H and E sections were fixed in 10% formalin and subjected to routine paraffin embedded processing and stained with hematoxylin and eosin.Results: Total number of cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma analyzed were 88, out of which 65 cases were subjected to MMP 9 expression by random selection on Immunohistochemistry. Majority of cases occurred in the age group of 41-50 years with male: female ratio of 1.4:1. In stage I and II the expression of MMP-9 is low in 37 cases (82.22%) and in stage III the expression is high in 14 cases (70%) with P value <0.05 (significant).Conclusions: Matrix metalloproteinases could act as a therapeutic target and could play an important role in effective treatment strategies of oral cancer.