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Updated: Jan 14, 2026

Development of Compendium for Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Published on: April 12, 2024
MMP-7, MMP-8, and MMP-9 in oral and cutaneous squamous cell carcinomas
Abdirisak Ahmed Haji Omar1, Caj Haglund2, Susanna Virolainen3
1Institute of Dentistry, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland.
Objectives:
Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (CSCC) are epithelial neoplasms, of which OSCC has a worse prognosis. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in the initiation, invasion, metastasis, and defense of cancer. This study aimed to compare differences in MMP expression in these cancers.
Study Design:
Sixty-one patients with early-stage (T1-T2 N0 M0) cancers, of which 36 were OSCC and 25 CSCC, were enrolled into this study. Immunohistochemical staining was performed with MMP-7, MMP-8, and MMP-9 antibodies.
Results:
MMP-7 expression was stronger in OSCC than in CSCC, mainly in the invasive front. MMP-8 was absent and MMP-9 was mildly expressed in OSCC and CSCC cells. However, MMP-8 and MMP-9 were positive in peritumoral inflammatory cells in both cancers. In addition, MMP-7, MMP-8, and MMP-9 were not associated with the overall survival of patients with OSCC and CSCC patients.
Conclusions:
The increased expression of MMP-7 in the invasive front may partly explain the aggressiveness of OSCC.
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