Expression of matrix metalloproteinase-7 and c-myc in human oral squamous cell carcinoma and its clinical pathologic significances

Objective To investigate the expression and significance of matrix metalloproteinase-7(MMP-7) and c-myc protein in oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC). Methods Immunohistochemical EliVisionTM method was used to detect the expression of MMP-7 and c-myc in 54 cases which contain 49 oral squamous cell carcinoma and 5 normal oral mucosa. Results 1)The positive expression rates of MMP-7 and c-myc in oral squamous cell carcinoma were respectively 83.7% and 77.6%. 2)The expression of MMP-7 was closely correlated with TNM stage, clinical grade, and lymph nodes metastasis of OSCC(P0.05). 3)There were significant differences of the c-myc expression in different pathologic grade as well as there were whether lymph node metastasis or not(P0.05). 4)The expression of MMP-7 and c-myc in oral squamous cell carcinoma were positively correlated(P0.05). Conclusion Both MMP-7 and c-myc express highly in oral squamous cell carcinoma, and have a synergistic effect on the occurrence and the development of oral squamous cell carcinoma.