MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in Cutaneous Melanoma: Association With Prognostic Factors and Description in Cutaneous Metastases.

摘要

Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) expression is associated with the high Breslow index and with the progression of melanoma. However, no studies relating MMP-2 to other histopathologic prognostic factors have been published to the best of our knowledge. The presence of the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) in association with other prognostic factors has also not been studied. We performed a cross-sectional study to evaluate the immunohistochemical expression of MMP-2 and of TIMP-2 in cutaneous melanoma, particularly as it relates to histopathologic prognostic factors and to melanoma metastases. The research was approved by the Committee of Research in Ethics at the Federal University of Health Sciences of Porto Alegre, Brazil.