The Significance of Vimentinand Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma in Relation with Tumor Depthand Prediction of Lymph Node Metastasis in South of Iraq

To evaluate the early diagnostic value of Vimentin and Matrix metalloproteinase-9 biomarkers immunohistochemistry depending on tumor depth in oral squamous cell carcinoma.

Forty-five paraffin wax blocks of malignant squamous cell in oral cavity were fundedretroactively. An immunohistochemical staining was proceeded using anti-Vimentin and anti-Matrix metalloproteinase-9 monoclonal antibodies.

The mean age of patients was 55.67+15.45, male affected more than the female with male to female ratio 1.5: 1, 50% of tumors were located in tongue, (53.33%) presented as mass. more than half of the cases were well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma (51.11%), (26.66%) had lymph node metastasis, and (33.33%) of the patients were in disease stage II. Tumor depthrevealed statically significant relation with lymph node involvement (P=0.036), and(57.78%) showed tumor depth more than 7mm. Both Vimentin and Matrix metalloproteinase-9 revealed significant positive correlation with depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis and stage of disease. There was a patentpositive interconnection between Vimentin and MMP-9 (P=0.034).

Both proteins expression offers exalted rate of lymph node hitting, deeper tissue invasion and worse speculation.