Abstract:

Objective

To investigate the expression of transforming growth factor-β1（TGF-β1）， matrix metalloproteinase-2 （MMP-2） and matrix metalloproteinase-9 （MMP-9） in human salivary adenoid cystic carcinoma （SACC） tissues， and to explore their relation with clinicopathological features.

Methods

Two-step immunochemistry staining method was employed to detect protein expression of TGF-β1， MMP-2 and MMP-9 in specimens from 27 ceases with human SACC and 15 cases with normal human salivary epithelial tissues.All data were analyzed by SPSS 17.0 software package.

Results

Positive expression rates of TGF-β1， MMP-2 and MMP-9 was 77.78%， 81.49% and 77.78% in SACC tissues and 40%， 26.67% and 26.67% in normal salivary tissues respectively.The expression of TGF-β1， MMP-2 and MMP-9 in SACC tissues increased compared with normal salivary tissues respectively （P ＜0.01）.Positive expression rates of TGF-β1， MMP-2 and MMP-9 at the third and forth phases （94.44%， 94.44%， 94.44%） was higher than that at the first and second phases （44.44%， 55.56% and 44.44%） in SACC.The differences were statistically significant （P ＜0.01， P ＜0.05 and P ＜0.01 respectively）； their expression was not correlated with patient's gender， age， region of primary tumor， pathological typing， and nerve invasion， local recurrence as well as distant metastasis （P ＞0.05）； TGF-β1 had a positive relationship with MMP-2 and MMP-9 in protein expression in SACC （r=0.771， P ＜0.001 and r=0.805， P ＜0.001 respectively）.

Conclusions

Increased expression of TGF-β1，MMP-2 and MMP-9 may be associated with clinical progression of SACC， and TGF-β1 may participate in the process of SACC initiation， progression， invasion and metastasis through regulating MMP-2 and MMP-9.

Key words: Adenoid cystic carcinoma, Transforming growth factor-β1, Matrix metalloproteinase-2, Matrix metalloproteinase-9, Immunohistochemistry, Clinicopathological significance