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Published on: April 22, 2019
Collagenase-3 (MMP-13) expression in cutaneous malignant melanoma
M D Corte1, L O Gonzalez, M G Corte
1Instituto Universitario de Oncología del Principado de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain.
Background:
Matrix metalloproteases (MMPs), enzymes with the ability to degrade the extracellular matrix, play an important role in tissue invasion by cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM). One specific MMP, collagenase-3 (MMP-13), is thought to have a key function in the activation of MMP.
Aims:
To evaluate the expression of MMP-13 in CMM and assess its possible relationship to clinical and pathological parameters.
Methods:
MMP-13 expression was analyzed in 51 paraffin-embedded tumor samples from patients with invasive CMM, ten samples from in situ melanomas, and in eight samples from benign lesions (three dermal melanocytic nevi, three compound melanocytic nevi and two atypical melanocytic nevi) using immunohistochemical techniques. The median follow-up period in patients with invasive CMM was 50 months.
Results:
Benign lesions were consistently negative for MMP-13, whereas three of the ten in situ melanomas (30%) and 23 of the 51 invasive CMMs (45%) showed positive immunostaining for MMP-13. The percentage of MMP-13-positive tumors correlated significantly and positively with the mitotic index (p=0.002) in invasive CMM. However, our results did not show any significant association between tumoral MMP-13 expression and relapse-free survival in patients with invasive CMM.
Conclusions:
MMP-13 appears to be a factor associated with tumor aggressiveness in CMM. It seems to eliminate an important barrier not only against tumoral invasion but also against proliferation.
Insights
Collagenase-3 (MMP-13) is elevated in cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM), correlating with tumor aggressiveness and mitotic index. This enzyme may facilitate melanoma invasion and proliferation.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Biochemistry
- Dermatology
Background:
- Matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) degrade extracellular matrix, aiding tissue invasion in cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM).
- Collagenase-3 (MMP-13) is implicated in MMP activation and CMM progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate MMP-13 expression in CMM.
- To determine the relationship between MMP-13 and clinical/pathological parameters in CMM.
Main Methods:
- Immunohistochemical analysis of MMP-13 in 51 invasive CMM, 10 in situ melanomas, and 8 benign lesions.
- Correlation analysis with clinical and pathological parameters, including mitotic index and survival data.
Main Results:
- MMP-13 was absent in benign lesions.
- MMP-13 was detected in 30% of in situ melanomas and 45% of invasive CMMs.
- MMP-13 expression positively correlated with mitotic index in invasive CMM but not with relapse-free survival.
Conclusions:
- MMP-13 is associated with tumor aggressiveness in CMM.
- MMP-13 may promote CMM invasion and proliferation by degrading extracellular matrix barriers.
