IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL EXPRESSION OF CD44 AND MMP-9 IN ORAL SQUAMOUS CELL CARCINOMA

Abstract

CD44 is a cell surface glycoprotein (adhesion molecules) expressed on lymphocytes, monocytes, and granulocytes. CD44 has been implicated in cell migration, and in tumor metastasis . CD44, one of the main cell surface receptors for hyaluronic acid in the extracellular matrix, and serves as an adhesion molecule in cell substrate and cell-cell interactions(43-44). Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are proteolytic enzymes capable of degrading connective tissue components. MMP-9 is one of the gelatinases that mainly degrades type IV collagen, which is the main component of basement membrane. Then the activity of MMP-9 is associated with the disruption of basement membrane and plays a very important role in the distant metastasis potential of carcinoma cells through vessel permeation. This study was conducted to immunohistochemically investigate the expression of CD44 and MMP-9 in different grades of squamous cell carcinoma. The material of this study consist of 45 formalin fixed, Paraffin embedded specimens of squamous cell carcinoma, fifteen cases diagnosed as well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, fifteen cases diagnosed as moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, and fifteen cases diagnosed as poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma . Using the peroxidase-autoperoxidase method for immunohistochemical examination,each lesion was staind with anti-CD44 and anti-MMP-9 antibodies. Histopathological examination using hematoxylin and eosin stain, was used to confirm the diagnosis.