Transcriptional Expressions of Matrix Metalloproteinase and Their Diagnostic and Prognostic Significance in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a large family of zinc-dependent endopeptidases known to play key roles in tumor invasion and metastasis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSC). Little is known about the function of different MMPs in HNSC. To investigate the roles of MMPs in the diagnostic and prognostic significance of HNSC, this study using ONCOMINE, UALCAN, Human Protein Atlas, cBioPortal, String, GSCAlite, TISIDB, Kaplan-Meier Plotter, databases. Abnormal expressions of most MMPs members were found to be significantly associated with tumor growth, metastasis and poor prognosis in HNSC patients. Besides, Cox proportional hazard model also showed that high mRNA expressions of MMP14/16/17/19/25 were independent prognostic factors for shorter overall survival (OS) of HNSC patients and participate the regulation of immune system. Moreover, methylation of MMP1/18/19/23B and ILF3 were also observed significantly associated with poor prognosis in HNSC patients(P