Background & Aims: Ameloblastoma is a slow growing, locally invasive epithelial odontogenic tumor and high rate of recurrence. Mechanisms involving ameloblastoma invasiveness are poorly understood, and no definitive treatment procedures for individual variants are mentioned in the literature. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) especially MMP-2 causes degradation of the matrix thereby promoting invasion and also in the induction of angiogenesis. Therefore, in this study we aimed to evaluate immunohistochemical expression of MMP-2 in intraosseous multicystic, unicystic and peripheral ameloblastoma.

Materials & Methods: In this study, paraffinized blocks including 10 multicystic ameloblastoma (5 pelxiform type, 5 follicular type), 10 mural unicystic, 10 unisystic (5 luminal type, 5 intraluminal type) and 10 peripheral were used. After preparing 4 micrometer blocks, the samples were stained by immunohistochemistry method for marker MMP-2.

Result: All samples showed positive MMP-2 expression. Multicystic ameloblastoma and mural unicystic ameloblastoma showed strong expression, significantly different with peripheral and luminal, intraluminal unicystic types (p<0.05).

Conclusion: According to higher rate of MMP-2 expression in solid ameloblastoma and mural unicystic type, more aggressive clinical behavior and treatment is expected in these types. In contrast peripheral and luminal, intra luminal unicystic types by lower expression of this protease are more likely to have benign clinical behavior and respond to more conservative treatment.

SOURCE: URMIA MED J 2017: 27(11): 995 ISSN: 1027-3727