118856

MMP21

matrix metallopeptidase 21;MMP21;matrix metallopeptidase 21

matrix metalloproteinase 21|matrix metalloproteinase-21

10q26.13

protein-coding

BACKGROUND: The expression of matrix metalloproteinase-21 (MMP-21) has been shown to be elevated in some solid tumor and thought to enhance tumor invasion and metastasis ability. In the present study, we investigated the expression of MMP-21 and its association with prognosis in stage II and III colorectal cancer. METHODS: MMP-21 expression was investigated in 286 cases of colorectal cancer by immunohistochemistry assay. Statistical analysis was utilized to evaluate the association of MMP-21 expression with clinicopathological characters and overall survival of patients with stage II and III colorectal cancer. RESULTS: MMP-21 expression was significantly higher in colorectal cancer, compared with that in normal epithelial tissue. And it also correlated with tumor invasion, lymph node metastasis, and distant metastasis of colorectal cancer. MMP-21 was also proved to be an independent prognostic factor in patients with stage II as well as stage III colorectal cancer. However, no correlations between MMP-21 expression and patients age, sex, tumor location, or differentiation status were detected. CONCLUSION: These results suggested the potential role of MMP-21 in the invasion and metastasis process of human colorectal cancer. It could also be a novel molecular marker to predict prognosis of patients with stage II and stage III colorectal cancer.

The aim of the present study was to examine the clinical significance of lymph node metastatic (LNM) foci in predicting the overall survival of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) patients with LNM. MMP-21 was screened based on the LNM animal model of OSCC. Then four proteins, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2, MMP-21, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-C and VEGF receptor (VEGFR)-3 were examined by immunohistochemistry in 63 OSCC specimens, including the primary tumors (PTs) and the corresponding LNM foci. The expression levels between the PTs and LNM foci were compared by Wilcoxon paired test. Relationships between expression of the four proteins and patient overall survival were assessed by Kaplan-Meier based on the median of the labeling index. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess the relative hazard factors. MMP-21 and VEGF-C expression levels were higher in the LNM foci than levels in the PTs. Results showed that MMP-2 and VEGF-C expression levels in the PTs and MMP-2, MMP-21 and VEGF-C expression in the LNM foci correlated with the overall survival of the OSCC patients with lymphatic metastasis. MMP-21 expression level in the LNM foci was the most reliable predictor among all the tested factors. These results suggest that high MMP-21 expression in LNM foci can be used to predict survival in OSCC patients with LNM. Characteristics of LNM foci may be more reliable than PT characteristics in predicting the overall survival of OSCC patients with lymphatic metastasis.