Relationship between expression of matrix metalloproteinases and morphological heterogeneity, tumor differentiation and lymphogenous metastasis of squamous cell laryngeal carcinoma

The study included 58 patients with stage ТNMsquamous cell laryngeal carcinoma. The age range was from 31 to 77 years. 1-30-30-1 Patients received no cancer treatment before surgery. The expression of metalloproteinases (ММP-1, -2, -9), their inhibitors (TIMP-1, -2) and inductor of metalloproteinase expression (CD147) were determined in tumor cells of different structures of squamous cell carcinoma using immunohistochemical method. Results were compared with the presence of lymphogenous metastases. Results. Five morphological structures of squamous cell carcinomas were studied: with keratinization (type 1), with cells of basaloid and acanthocyte types without kartinization (type 2), with cells of basaloid type (type 3), with pronounced cellular polymorphism (type 4) and single tumor cells (type 5). With regard to combination of these structures, tumors were divided into high-grade, low-grade and mixed tumor structures. In tumors without lymphogenous metastases, the increased expression of ММP-1, -2, and-9 was only revealed in discrete cells. In tumors with lymphogenic metastases, the increased MMP-9 expression was observed in more differentiated structures of 1, 2 and 3 types. Less frequent lymphogenous metastasis of vocal cord carcinomas was associated only with tumors of mixed structure, in which the expression of TIMP1 was reduced. Conclusion. To assess the histological differentiation of squamous cell carcinoma of the larynx, it should be considered a combination of high- and low-grade tumor structures. The expression of metalloproteinases should be studied considering morphological heterogeneity of squamous cell carcinomas. The frequency of lymphogenous metastasis of high-or low-grade squamous cell carcinoma of the vocal cords did not differ from that of squamous cell carcinoma of the supra-glottal area. The frequency of lymphogenous metastasis was significantly lower in mixed squamous cell carcinomas of the vocal cords than in similar carcinomas of the supra-glottal area.