Assessment of plasma levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 and its endogenous inhibitor TIMP-1 in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Despite considerable progress in the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC), the search for the new prognostic criteria is of great importance. The study analyzed the production of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and its tissue inhibitor (TIMP-1) in blood plasma of 43 patients with HNSCC in the age range 31-77 years. The study evaluated the correlation of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 levels with clinicopathological parameters such as age of the patients, history duration, histological type and stage of the tumor. The reduction in the level of MMP-9 (p=0,03) and the increase in the ratio TIMP-l/MMP-9 (p=0,01) were found in patients with a disease duration within 6-12 months as compared to similar indices for patients examined less than in 6 months from the onset of the disease. The highest plasma level of MMP-1 was observed in patients with stage II tumors and it was reduced in patients with stage III tumors (p=0,04). The reverse correlation was noted for the ratio TIMP-l/MMP-9 (p=0,04). The plasma level of TIMP-1 for patients with HNSCC without regional metastases was shown to be higher than in patients with regional metastases (p=0,04). Therefore, the production of matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor plays an important role in the development of metastases. The detection of prognostic significance of MMP-9 and TIMP-1 levels requires longer follow-up time for the studied group of patients.