EXPRESSION OF MATRIX METALLOPROTEINASE-1,-7,-9,-13, Ki-67, AND HER-2 IN EPITHELIAL-MYOEPITHELIAL SALIVARY GLAND CANCER

Background. The expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in epithelial-myoepithelial salivary gland carcinoma has not been studied previously. Methods. Immunohistochemistry for MMP-1. -7. -9, -13, Ki-67, and HER-2, as well as HER-2 gene amplification by silver enhanced in situ hybridization was performed in a series of 12 paraffin-embedded histopathologic samples of patients from Canada and Finland. Results. A positive MMP-13 (p = .0022), higher MMP-13 (p = .0274), and higher MMP-9 (p = .0274) index (multiplication of staining intensity by percentage of the positive cells) predicted better overall survival. In disease-specific analysis, higher MMP-9 index (p = .0327) predicted better survival. A higher volume corrected index (VCI) of Ki-67 (p = .0339) predicted worse disease-specific survival. In 1 patient, HER-2 oncogene amplification was observed. Conclusion. MMPs and Ki-67 may have prognostic impact in epithelial-myoepithelial carcinoma. (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 32: 1019-1027, 2010