MMP-14 can serve as a prognostic marker in patients with supraglottic cancer

The purpose of this study was to examine the expression of MMP-14, 15 and 16 (MT1, MT2 and MT3-MMP) in supraglottic carcinoma and to explore their clinical significance. Expression of MMP-14, 15 and 16 was examined using RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry methods in samples from 85 cases of supraglottic carcinoma. Results showed that both mRNA and protein expression of MMP-14, 15 and 16 were increased in supraglottic carcinoma tissues compared to expression in control adjacent non-neoplastic tissues (P < 0.05). Expression of MMP-14, but not MMP-15 and MMP-16, was significantly increased in the T3 and neck nodal metastasis groups compared with the T1–2 group and the group without nodal metastasis at both mRNA and protein levels (P < 0.05). Expression of MMP-14 mRNA and protein was also higher in tumors of patients with stage III–IV disease compared to patients with clinical stage I–II tumors (P < 0.05). Kaplan–Meier survival curves showed that the groups with high MMP-14 protein expression had a poorer prognosis than patients in the groups with weak or negative expression of MMP-14 protein (P < 0.05). In conclusion, MMP-14 may play an important role in the progression of supraglottic carcinoma and may be a novel prognostic factor for patients with supraglottic carcinoma. Huiyan Zhang and Ming Liu are co-first authors.