RESUMO
OBJECTIVE: A disintegrin and metalloproteinase domain containing protein 33 (also known as ADAM-33) is a member of a matrix metalloproteinase family which mediates extracellular matrix remodelling and changes in cellular adhesion. This study aimed to evaluate expression of this protein in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, and to determine its correlation with patients' clinicopathological characteristics. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Forty paraffin blocks of laryngeal carcinoma underwent immunohistochemical staining to detect "a disintegrin and metalloproteinase-33" expression. Case records were reviewed to determine patient characteristics. RESULTS: All epithelial, vascular and stromal staining scores were significantly increased in tumour tissue compared with controls (p < 0.001). However, patients' clinical characteristics at the time of diagnosis, and their disease extent, did not correlate significantly with the immunohistochemical staining scores. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that increased expression of "a disintegrin and metalloproteinase-33" may play a role in the pathogenesis of laryngeal carcinoma.