Role of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in the development and prognosis of squamous cell head and neck carcinoma

Prognostic significance of determination of MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels in blood serum of 142 patients with stage T1-4N0-3M0 head and neck cancer was studied using immunoenzymatic assay. The serum MMP-9 level in head and neck cancer patients was significantly higher than that observed in healthy subjects. Negative correlation between the serum MMP-2 level and tumor size was found. The serum MMP-2 level was significantly higher in patients with stage I head and neck cancer than in healthy subjects. High serum MMP-9 level was associated with poor prognosis for 2-year overall, recurrence-free and metastasis-free survivals of head and neck cancer patients. High serum MMP-2 and MMP-9 levels prior to treatment were found to be related to a high risk for metastasis.