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Matrix Metalloproteinase Family as Molecular Biomarkers in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

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Biomarkers in Cancer

Abstract

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most common head and neck malignancies. Affected by the nonspecific symptoms, the OSCC patients are usually diagnosed in the advanced stages. To improve the treatment outcome and survival of OSCC, identification of the reliable biomarkers for early detection and prognosis prediction is necessary. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) function in degradation of ECM, generation of active peptides, and activation of specific growth factors, resulting in forming an environment promoting tumor progression, invasion, and metastasis. MMPs can be applied as potential cancer biomarkers for early detection, risk assessment, prognostic analysis, and evaluation of response to treatment in OSCC. Moreover, the detection of MMPs in blood and saliva is a feasible mean to monitor OSCC in a noninvasive manner. Among all of the MMPs, MMP-9 probably appears to be the most promising biomarker with most of the documented cases. However, an updated meta-analysis is needed to confirm the advantages of MMP-9 over other MMPs in monitoring OSCC. Furthermore, an observation that MMP-11 in combination with Ets-1 or vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) leads to more accurate prediction in comparison with MMP-11 alone warrants further studies on the use of combined biomarkers in OSCC management.

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Abbreviations

BL:

Basal Lamina

ECM:

Extracellular Matrix

EGF:

Epidermal Growth Factor

ELISA:

Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbant Assay

ER-a:

Estrogen Receptor-a

ER-b:

Estrogen Receptor-b

FGF-2:

Fibroblast Growth Factor-2

HPV:

Human Papillomavirus

MMPs:

Matrix Metalloproteinases

MT-MMPs:

Membrane-Type MMPs

OSCC:

Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

OTSCC:

Oral Tongue Squamous Cell Carcinoma

TGF-β:

Transforming Growth Factor-β

VEGF:

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Queen Mary Hospital, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong

    Thian-Sze Wong & Wei Gao

  2. Department of Surgery, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong

    Zeng-Hong Li

Authors
  1. Thian-Sze Wong
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  2. Wei Gao
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  3. Zeng-Hong Li
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Correspondence to Thian-Sze Wong .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine King’s College London, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics Division of Diabetes & Nutritional Scien, London, United Kingdom

    Victor R. Preedy

  2. Faculty of Science & Technology, Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Westminster, London, United Kingdom

    Vinood B. Patel

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Wong, TS., Gao, W., Li, ZH. (2015). Matrix Metalloproteinase Family as Molecular Biomarkers in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma. In: Preedy, V., Patel, V. (eds) Biomarkers in Cancer. Biomarkers in Disease: Methods, Discoveries and Applications. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-7681-4_10

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