RESUMO
BACKGROUND: Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) are known for their invasive behavior. The invasiveness of these tumors requires proteases, some of which as urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA), gelatinase B and matrilysin are regulated through AP-1 dependent transcriptional mechanisms. AP-1 consists of several proteins, including those encoded by the proto-oncogenes c-jun and c-fos. The aim of this study was to: first, evaluate the expression levels of matrix metalloproteases (matrilysin and gelatinase B) and uPA mRNAs; second, examine whether these genes might be associated with c-jun and c-fos expression; third, examine the relationship between the expression of these genes and HNSCC clinico-pathological features. METHODS: We have analyzed 38 HNSCC primary tumors and matched mucosa tissues for uPA, gelatinase B, matrilysin, c-fos, and c-jun by Northern-blot analysis. RESULTS: uPA, gelatinase B, matrilysin, and c-jun mean levels were statistically higher in the tumors than in the normal adjacent mucosa, whereas no difference was found when c-fos mRNA values were compared, c-jun mRNA expression correlated directly with gelatinase B and matrilysin mRNA levels, but no association with uPA mRNA was observed, c-fos mRNA levels were not associated with the tested proteases, but low levels were determined in tumors from older patients who subsequently developed a 2(nd) tumor. No evidence of correlation between expression of uPA, matrilysin, and c-jun in tumors and clinico-pathological features was found. Gelatinase B mRNA high levels were associated to presence of cervical recurrences. CONCLUSION: Expression of c-jun seems to be involved in the regulation of gelatinase B and matrilysin being not related to uPA. Lack of association with c-fos may indicate that other fos family members might play a role in the transcriptional activity of the analyzed proteases in HNSCC tumors.