Increased expression of matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 as poor prognosis factor for Hodgkin's lymphoma patients

The aim of our study was to evaluate the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 as a prognostic factor in patients diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL).

In the present study, 45 paraffin biopsies from patients up to 19 years old diagnosed with HL were used in two referral hospitals in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. Risk groups were classified into favorable and unfavorable, according to Ann Arbor. The expression of matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 and their inhibitors was performed by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Data were analyzed using the GraphPad Prism 5 program.

MMP-2 intensity pattern was stronger (>10% of the total field) in patients with stage III/IV and B symptoms. MMP-2 showed an association with the risk group (p = 0.0388). That is, the stronger the MMP-2 marking, the greater the unfavorable risk. However, for MMP-9 there was no difference in the stronger intensity pattern in relation to stages I/II and III/IV, only in the presence of B symptoms. MMP-9 showed an association with B Symptoms (p = 0.0411). Therefore, patients with B symptoms have higher MMP-9 expression.

Our results suggest that MMP-2 expression is associated with HL progression. While MMP-9 expression is related to the clinical worsening of these patients. However, further studies are needed to evaluate the exact role of these proteins in hematologic malignancies.