MMP-۹ and CCR۷ as Possible Predictors of Lymph Node Metastasis in Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Background & Objective: The expression of matrix metalloproteinase-۹ (MMP-۹) and chemokine receptor ۷ (CCR۷) is significantly associated with tumor invasion and metastasis. Little is known regarding the potential of these markers in predicting cancer metastasis in Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (LSCC). Therefore, this study aimed to dissect the potential of these markers in predicting the lymph node metastasis in LSCC patients.Methods: Sixty tissue samples were obtained from the patients diagnosed pathologically with LSCC who underwent partial or total laryngectomy. The expression of MMP-۹ and CCR۷ was measured using the immunohistochemistry staining in the tissue samples of LSCC patients. The ROC (receiver operating characteristic) curve was used to determine the most significant cut-off points of expression according to the highest sensitivity and specificity of both the markers to predict the lymph node metastasis in LSCC. Then, the relationship between the clinicopathology features and the expression of MMP-۹ and CCR۷ was evaluated.Results: The expression of both MMP-۹ and CCR۷ was significantly correlated with the lymph node metastasis in LSCC (P<۰.۰۰۱). Furthermore, CCR۷ expression exhibited the highest prediction accuracy (AUC ۹۵.۷%) and sensitivity (۱۰۰%) in predicting the lymph node metastasis in LSCC compared to that of MMP-۹ (AUC ۹۲.۹%, sensitivity ۹۰%). We also found that patients with larger tumor size (> ۴ cm) had significantly higher expression of MMP-۹ and CCR۷ (P<۰.۰۰۲ and P<۰.۰۰۱, respectively). The Elevated expression level of CCR۷ statistically correlated with higher MMP-۹ expression (P<۰.۰۰۱).Conclusion: MMP-۹ and CCR۷ might be beneficial as predictors of lymph node metastasis in LSCC patients.

Keywords:

Laryngeal Squamous Carcinoma , MMP-۹ , CCR۷ , Lymph node metastasis