Serum Level of Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 in Patients with Salivary Gland Tumor

Statement of the Problem: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of certain diseases and cancers via tissue destruction and can be secreted into the blood stream. MMP9 expression in the salivary gland tissue was evaluated but their serum level in the salivary gland tumors was not studied. The aim of our study was to determine the concentration of serum MMP-9 in healthy participants and in patients with salivary gland tumor. Using an ELISA kit, the circulating levels of MMP-9 in sera from 58 patients with salivary gland tumor (31 pleomorphic adenoma, 17 adenoid cystic carcinoma and 10 mucoepidermoid carcinoma) and 30 healthy controls was assessed. The serum MMP9 level in patients with salivary gland tumors (380.0±301.3 pg/ml) also patients with benign tumors (354.3±218.7 pg/ml) (354.3±218.7 pg/ml) were significantly lower than that in the healthy group (727.4±624.6 pg/ml) (Respectively p= 0.02 and p= 0.01). Mean serum MMP9 concentration in malignant tumors was (402.3±441.8pg/ml) higher than benign tumors (354.3±218.7 pg/ml) but the difference was not significant (p= 0.9). Our results showed that serum level of MMP9 decreased in patients with salivary gland tumors which suggest that MMP9 may not have a potential role in development and pathogenesis of salivary gland tumor.