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. 2020 May-Jun;34(3):1271-1275.
doi: 10.21873/invivo.11901.

Peritumoral Clefting and Expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in Basal Cell Carcinoma of the Skin

Ivana Manola  1 , Ana Mataic  2 , Daniela Ledic Drvar  3   4 , Ivan Pezelj  5 , Tihana Regovic Dzombeta  3   6 , Bozo Kruslin  7   6
Affiliations
Free PMC article

Peritumoral Clefting and Expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in Basal Cell Carcinoma of the Skin

Ivana Manola et al. In Vivo. 2020 May-Jun.
Free PMC article

Abstract

Background/aim: Peritumoral clefting is one of the main histologic features of basal cell carcinoma of the skin (BCC). The aim of the study was to analyze the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 both in cells of basal cell carcinoma and in the adjacent stroma and to correlate the findings of immunohistochemical analysis with the presence of peritumoral clefting.

Patients and methods: The study was made on archival material comprising 48 cases of BCC. These were scanned for the presence of peritumoral clefts. The results of immunohistochemical staining for MMP-2 and MMP-9 were determined semiquantitatively using immunohistochemical staining index (ISI).

Results: Peritumoral retractions were found in 40 BCC cases. Positive immunohistochemical reaction for MMP-2 in tumor cells was found in 47 cases and in all cases in the adjacent stroma. Positive immunostaining for MMP-9 in BCC tumor cells was observed in 37 cases and in all cases in the adjacent stroma. There was no statistically significant association between peritumoral retractions and expression of MMPs. A statistically significant correlation was found in the expression of both MMP-2 and MMP-9 between the tumor and the stroma.

Conclusion: Tumor cells elaborate MMP-2 and -9, but they also produce some other factors that may induce production of MMPs in adjacent stromal cells. The role of MMPs in the development of peritumoral clefts could not be confirmed.

Keywords: Basal cell carcinoma; MMP-2; MMP-9; histopathology; peritumoral clefting.

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Conflict of interest statement

The Authors have no conflicts of interest to declare regarding this study.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Peritumoral retraction clefting in basal cell carcinoma of the skin (HE×100)
Figure 2
Figure 2. Immunohistochemical expression of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) and MMP-9 in basal cell carcinoma of the skin. (A) The staining intensity of MMP-2 was moderate and the percentage of positive cells was >50%, making a moderate immunohistochemical staining index (A; MMP-2, ×200). (B) The staining intensity of MMP-9 was strong, but the percentage of positive cells was 10-50%, making the moderate immunohistochemical staining index (B; MMP-9 ×400).
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