Immunohistochemical expression of TGF-β in relation to invasion potential evaluated by MMP-2 in oral squamous cell carcinoma

Abstract EN

Background : Squamous cell carcinoma is a malignant neoplasm of stratified squamous Epithelium ; it is by far the most common malignant neoplasm of the oral cavity representing approximately 94 % of oral cancer.

It is capable of local destruction and invasion with distant metastasis.

This study evaluates the Immunohistochemical expression of TGF-β and MMP-2 as markers of invasion and metastasis of OSCC and their correlation with the tumor grade and stage and with each other. Materials and methods : Thirty blocks of OSCC were included in this study.

An immunohistochemical staining was performed using anti matrix metalloproteinase-2 and anti-transforming growth factor-β monoclonal antibodies. Results : Positive immunohistochemical expression of MMP-2 and TGF- β was found in (100 %) and (93.3 %) of the cases respectively.

No statistically significant correlation was found regarding either markers with respect to the tumor grade and stage .On the other hand a statistically significant correlation was found between the expressions of both markers (p = 0.036). Conclusions : TGF-β and MMP-2 immunoexpression showed no significant influence on tumor invasion and metastasis in relation to the tumor grade and stage.

While the significant correlation seen regarding the expression of both markers with each other, suggests their cooperative role in oral squamous cell carcinoma.