RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Studies on the Expression of MMP-9 and Significance of a Macrophage Assay in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma JF Chinese Journal of Clinical Oncology JO Cancer Biol Med FD China Anti-Cancer Association SP 333 OP 337 DO 10.1007/s11805-007-0333-z VO 4 IS 5 A1 Dai, Taiming A1 Song, Yufeng A1 Ma, Hong A1 Feng, Hongchao YR 2007 UL http://www.cancerbiomed.org/content/4/5/333.abstract AB OBJECTIVE To investigate the significance and relationship between matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) and infiltration of macrophages in the process of invasion and metastasis in oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC).METHODS The immunohistochemical SABC method was used to detect the expression of MMP-9 and CD68 (for labeling macrophages) in 42 cases of OSCC and in 10 normal tissues.RESULTS The expression of MMP-9 and macrophage counts in the OSCC cases were significantly higher compared to normal tissues (P<0.05). The expression of MMP-9 and macrophage counts were related to lymphnode metastasis and the TNM stage (P<0.05), showing that there was a positive correlation among these parameters (γ = 0.443, P<0.01).CONCLUSION Both MMP-9 and macrophages may play an important role in the process of invasion and metastasis in OSCC, and this cellular activity may relate to the macrophages which affect the tumor cells and up-regulate the expression of MMP-9.