EVALUATION OF IMMUNOHISTOCHEMICAL EXPRESSION OF MATRIX METALLOPROTEINASE 2 IN SOLID INTRAOSSEOUS, UNICYSTIC AND PERIPHERAL AMELOBLASTOMAS

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.