Abstract Collagen XVII (BP180) is a transmembrane component of hemidesmosomes, which connect basal keratinocytes to the basement membrane. The extracellular domain of collagen XVII is proteolytically shed from the cell surface and released to the extracellular matrix. Apart from its function in epithelial cell adhesion, collagen XVII has been suggested to participate in keratinocyte motility. The collagen XVII expression pattern was studied in wounds of oral mucosa and in epithelial tumors. During re-epithelialization, collagen XVII was expressed in the keratinocytes distal to the wound edge, but not in the leading cells of the epithelial tip. Collagen XVII upregulation was observed in moderate/severe dysplasias of oral mucosa. In follicular ameloblastomas and basal cell carcinomas, collagen XVII expression was reduced in peripheral cells, whereas cytoplasmic staining was detected in central tumor cells. Tongue squamous cell carcinomas showed increased collagen XVII expression in grade II/III tumors, particularly in areas of invasive growth. The results suggest a correlation between overexpression of collagen XVII and the invasive potential of the tumor. For the first time, the role of collagen XVII in the regulation of malignant migration was explored. The presence of COL15, the cell adhesion domain of collagen XVII, induced migration of tongue squamous cell carcinoma cells in transmigration assays. Experiments with specific function-blocking integrin antibodies revealed that the promigratory function of COL15 is mediated by αv and α5 integrins. The role of the matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) family of proteolytic enzymes in wound re-epithelialization was studied in a transgenic mouse model. In these mice, a specific inhibitor of MMPs, TIMP-1, was overexpressed in cells that normally produce MMP-9. The healing of cutaneous wounds was found to be significantly delayed, but not prevented, due to the impaired ability of keratinocytes to migrate to the wound area. These results suggest that collagen XVII may participate in epithelial tumor progression and invasion by promoting migration of tumor cells. Based on the present study, epithelial cell-derived MMPs play a significant role in the migration of wound keratinocytes during re-epithelialization.

Metaloproteinases (MMP) são enzimas proteolíticas, fundamentais à carcinogênese. Evoluções de 37 pacientes operados por carcinomas medulares da tireóide foram comparadas com dados clinicopatológicos e expressões imuno-histoquímicas de MMP-2, MT1-MMP e TIMP-2 em seus espécimes neoplásicos. Condições clínicas finais foram correlacionadas com os aspectos clinicopatológicos: exame físico cervical positivo, sintomas sistêmicos, diâmetro tumoral, extensão neoplásica para a cápsula tireóidea, extensão tumoral para tecidos adjacentes, invasão vascular, metástases cervicais, estádio TNM, evidências de doenças cervical e/ou a distância. Expressões de MMP-2 e MT1-MMP foram correlacionadas à evolução clínica e maior proporção de TIMP-2, em relação à MMP-2, correlacionou-se a benefícios prognósticos / Metalloproteinases (MMP) are proteolytic enzymes, fundamental to carcinogenesis. Outcome of 37 patients operated on due to medullary thyroid carcinomas were compared to clinicopathologic data and immunohistochemistry expression of MMP-2, MT1-MMP and TIMP-2 in their neoplastic specimens. Final clinical conditions were related to the clinicopathologic aspects: clinical features, systemic symptoms, tumor size, tumor extension to thyroid capsule, tumor extension to adjacent tissues, vascular invasion, cervical metastases, TNM stage and evidences of disease in the neck and/or distant metastases. Expression of MMP-2 and MT1-MMP were related to outcome and greater proportion of TIMP-2, over MMP-2, was related to prognostic benefits

Metaloproteinases (MMP) são enzimas proteolíticas, fundamentais à carcinogênese. Evoluções de 37 pacientes operados por carcinomas medulares da tireóide foram comparadas com dados clinicopatológicos e expressões imuno-histoquímicas de MMP-2, MT1-MMP e TIMP-2 em seus espécimes neoplásicos. Condições clínicas finais foram correlacionadas com os aspectos clinicopatológicos: exame físico cervical positivo, sintomas sistêmicos, diâmetro tumoral, extensão neoplásica para a cápsula tireóidea, extensão tumoral para tecidos adjacentes, invasão vascular, metástases cervicais, estádio TNM, evidências de doenças cervical e/ou a distância. Expressões de MMP-2 e MT1-MMP foram correlacionadas à evolução clínica e maior proporção de TIMP-2, em relação à MMP-2, correlacionou-se a benefícios prognósticos / Metalloproteinases (MMP) are proteolytic enzymes, fundamental to carcinogenesis. Outcome of 37 patients operated on due to medullary thyroid carcinomas were compared to clinicopathologic data and immunohistochemistry expression of MMP-2, MT1-MMP and TIMP-2 in their neoplastic specimens. Final clinical conditions were related to the clinicopathologic aspects: clinical features, systemic symptoms, tumor size, tumor extension to thyroid capsule, tumor extension to adjacent tissues, vascular invasion, cervical metastases, TNM stage and evidences of disease in the neck and/or distant metastases. Expression of MMP-2 and MT1-MMP were related to outcome and greater proportion of TIMP-2, over MMP-2, was related to prognostic benefits

No description available.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Stockholm : Karolinska institutet, 2006. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Made available in DSpace on 2015-07-22T20:49:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2010-11-24. Added 1 bitstream(s) on 2015-08-11T03:26:29Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 Publico-393.pdf: 1637068 bytes, checksum: 4fe3757007f6a049eac930eb08b63c88 (MD5) / O melanoma é o tipo de câncer de pele menos frequente, mas que tem um grande poder de letalidade devido ao seu potencial de formar metástases. Para as células adquirirem a capacidade de formar metástases, estas precisam ter a característica de sobreviver independente de interações com a matriz extracelular e consequentemente apresentar resistência ao anoikis. Por isso, a importância de se estudar as alterações que ocorrem com células tumorais que adquirem essa capacidade. Em nosso laboratório foi desenvolvido um modelo que nos permite estudar diferentes etapas da gênese do melanoma. Melanócitos murinos melan-a que sobreviveram depois de 1, 2, 3 e 4 ciclos de impedimento de ancoragem por 96 horas apresentaram modificações na morfologia e crescimento independente de PMA, e foram denominadas 1C, 2C, 3C e 4C, respectivamente. Diferentes linhagens de melanoma (4C11-, 4C11+, Tm1, Tm5, etc) foram estabelecidas após submeter os esferóides sobreviventes da 4C à diluição limitante. Dados prévios de nosso laboratório mostraram aumento da expressão de Timp1 ao longo da transformação maligna de melanócitos e aumento da resistência ao anoikis. Melanócitos melan-a superexpressando o gene Timp1 adquirem fenótipo de resistência ao anoikis. No entanto, o mecanismo pelo qual Timp1 medeia essa sinalização de sobrevivência não é conhecido. Dados da literatura mostram interação entre CD63, Timp1 e 1-integrinas em células epiteliais de mama humana e que essa interação regula processos fisiológicos como apoptose. Além disso, a glicosilação aberrante em moléculas de adesão celular, como integrinas, pode conferir às células capacidade de sobreviver em condições independentes de ancoragem. O objetivo do presente estudo foi analisar a possível interação entre CD63, Timp1 e 1-integrinas ao longo da transformação maligna de melanócitos, a presença de N-glicosilação aberrante em β1-integrinas e o impacto da N-glicosilação aberrante na resistência ao anoikis. Observou-se interação entre CD63 e Timp1 e CD63 e 1-integrinas nas linhagens 4C, 4C11- e 4C11+, estabelecidas após ciclos de impedimento de ancoragem, já a interação entre Timp1 e 1-integrinas foi observada somente nas linhagens de melanoma 4C11- e 4C11+. A expressão de 1-integrinas na superfície celular está aumentada na linhagem de melanoma agressivo 4C11+, assim como a expressão de Mgat-V e N-glicosilação aberrante. Além disso, o perfil eletroforético da 1-integrina sugere que a mesma apresenta aumento de N-glicosilação aberrante na linhagem de melanoma metastático 4C11+. O tratamento de células de melanoma 4C11+ com o inibidor de N-glicosilação swainsonine resulta em menor capacidade destas células em resistir ao anoikis. Este parece ser o primeiro estudo descrevendo a interação entre Timp1, CD63 e 1-integrinas em células tumorais. Assim, o presente trabalho favorece o entendimento de como Timp1 regula resistência ao anoikis ao longo da transformação maligna de melanócitos. / Although malignant melanoma is the less frequently diagnosed skin cancer, it shows a poor prognosis due its chemoresistance and metastasis development. One of the adquired abilities of transformed cells is anoikis resistance and this property is closely related to metastasis formation. In our laboratory, we developed a model that allows us to study different steps of melanocyte malignant transformation. Melan-a melanocytes surviving after 1, 2, 3 and 4 deadhesion cycles showed modified morphology and independent PMA growth and have been named, 1C, 2C, 3C and 4C cells, respectively. Different melanoma cell lines were established after submitting 4C spheroids to limiting dilution. Previous results of our group showed increased expression of Timp1 along melanoma genesis and its correlation with anoikis resistance. However, the mechanism involved in this signaling is unknown. Published data demonstrated interaction between CD63, Timp1 and 1-integrins in human breast epithelial cells and its role in apoptosis. Furthermore, aberrant glycosylation in cell adhesion molecules such as integrins provides to cells the ability to survive under anchorage-independent conditions. The aim of this work was analyze the possible interaction among CD63, Timp1 and 1-integrins along melanocyte malignant transformation, possible aberrant N-glycosylation patterns of β1-integrins and their impact in anoikis resistance. Aberrant N-glycosylation patterns were observed in tumorigenic cells. We observed interaction between CD63 and Timp1 and between CD63 and 1-integrins in the melan-a-derived cells 4C, 4C11, and 4C11 +, and interaction between Timp1 and 1-integrins only in melanoma cell lines 4C11 - and 4C11 +. The presence of Timp1 in supernatant from 4C11+ conferred to melan-a cells anoikis resistance. The expression of 1-integrins in our study model is increased in aggressive melanoma lineage, 4C11+, as well as the expression of Mgat-V and aberrant N-glycosylation on cell surface. Moreover, the electrophoretic profile of  1-integrin suggests that melanoma metastatic 4C11+. Lineage present increased aberrant N-glycosylation in this molecule. Treatment of melanoma cells 4C11 + with the N-glycosylation inhibitor, swainsonine, resulted in reduced capacity of these cells to resist to anoikis. This seems to be the first study describing the interaction between Timp1, CD63 and 1-integrin in tumor cells and may contribute to a better understanding of how Timp1 regulates resistance to anoikis during the melanocyte malignant transformation. / TEDE / BV UNIFESP: Teses e dissertações

No description available.

Abstract Endometrial carcinoma is the most common gynegologic malignancy in developed countries. Due to early symptoms, including abnormal uterine bleeding, endometrial cancer is often diagnosed at an early stage and in that case usually has a good prognosis and high cure rates. However, the nature of the disease is heterogeneous. During the last decades, the improvement in survival rates among endometrial cancer patients has not been significant, suggesting that the traditional clinicopathological factors may be inadequate to identify patients with high-risk disease. Furthermore, aggressive adjuvant treatments can be costly and very toxic. Therefore, better prognostic markers associated with biological aggressiveness of endometrial carcinoma are needed to identify the patients with high-risk disease, and to be able to select the treatment more individually. Gelatinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9) and their tissue inhibitors (TIMP-1 and TIMP-2) have been found to play a role in tumor progression. In the present work, the expression and prognostic value of MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 were assessed in endometrial carcinoma. The patient material consisted of a total of 266 women diagnosed with primary endometrial carcinoma. The tissue expression of immunoreactive proteins was examined in paraffin-embedded tumor sections by immunohistochemical staining using specific antibodies, and the pretreatment serum levels of the proteins were quantitatively measured by ELISA. Tissue MMP-2 expression associated with a worsened prognosis, whereas tissue TIMP-2 overexpression was an indicator of a favorable outcome. Furthermore, we observed a combination of strong MMP-2 and weak TIMP-2 tissue expression to identify a group of women at high risk of adverse outcome in endometrial carcinoma. Patients with negative MMP-2 immunostaining had the best prognosis, regardless of TIMP-2 staining result. In serum measurements, high preoperative TIMP-1 concentration was a prognostic indicator of unfavorable outcome. These results indicate that tissue MMP-2 and TIMP-2 as well as circulating TIMP-1 may be prognostic markers in endometrial carcinoma. Of these, tissue MMP-2 seems to be the most potent prognostic marker. Studies with larger patient materials are needed to further explore the value of these enzymes in clinical practice in endometrial cancer. / Tiivistelmä Kohdunrungon syöpä on yleisin gynekologinen maligniteetti kehittyneissä maissa. Varhaisten oireiden, kuten poikkeavan verisen vuodon, vuoksi kohdunrungon syöpä havaitaan usein varhaisessa vaiheessa, jolloin sen ennuste on hyvä. Taudin käyttäytyminen voi kuitenkin olla moninaista. Viime vuosikymmenten aikana kohdunrungon syöpään sairastuneiden ennuste ei ole merkittävästi parantunut. Vaikuttaisi siltä, että perinteiset ennustetekijät eivät ole riittävän tarkkoja ennustamaan syövän taudinkulkua. Lisäksi liitännäishoidot voivat olla kalliita, ja niihin voi liittyä vakavia haittavaikutuksia. Uusien biologisten ennustetekijöiden löytäminen olisi tärkeää, jotta aggressiivista syöpätyyppiä sairastavat potilaat pystyttäisiin tunnistamaan entistä paremmin, ja hoito kyettäisiin räätälöimään yksilöllisemmin taudinkuvaa vastaavasti. Gelatinaasien (MMP-2 ja MMP-9) sekä niiden kudosinhibiittoreiden (TIMP-1 ja TIMP-2) on havaittu osallistuvan syövän etenemiseen. Tässä tutkimuksessa tarkasteltiin MMP-2:n ja MMP-9:n sekä niiden kudosinhibiittoreiden TIMP-1:n ja TIMP-2:n ilmentymistä ja ennusteellista merkitystä kohdunrungon syövässä. Aineisto käsitti yhteensä 266 primaariseen kohdunrungon syöpään sairastunutta naista. Määritysmenetelminä käytettiin sekä immunohistokemiallista värjäystä parafiiniin valettujen kudosnäytteiden osalta että ELISA-määrityksiä ennen hoitoa otettujen seeruminäytteiden osalta. Syöpäkudoksen runsas MMP-2 -proteiinin ilmentyminen liittyi epäsuotuisaan ennusteeseen, kun taas kasvainkudoksen voimakas TIMP-2 -proteiinin ilmentyminen oli hyvän ennusteen merkki. Lisäksi kasvainkudoksen voimakkaan MMP-2- ja heikon TIMP-2 -proteiinien ilmentymisen yhdistelmän havaittiin liittyvän suurempaan syövästä johtuvaan kuolleisuuteen. MMP-2 -negatiivisten potilaiden eloonjäämisennuste oli paras, TIMP-2 -värjäystuloksesta riippumatta. Seerumin korkea TIMP-1 -pitoisuus oli merkittävä huonontuneen ennusteen merkki. Tutkimuksen tulokset viittaavat siihen, että kasvainkudoksessa esiintyvät MMP-2- ja TIMP-2 -proteiinit samoin kuin seerumin TIMP-1 -pitoisuus voivat ennustaa kohdunrungon syövän kliinistä käyttäytymistä. Kasvainkudoksessa esiintyvä MMP-2 -proteiini vaikuttaisi olevan merkittävin ennusteellinen tekijä, mutta tulosten varmistamiseksi tarvitaan lisää tutkimuksia suuremmilla potilasaineistoilla.

Introdução: Micose fungoide poiquilodérmica (MFp) é uma variante clínica de micose fungoide (MF). É mais indolente e caracterizada pela presença da poiquilodermia. As metaloproteinases (MMP) e seus inibidores específicos TIMP (Tissue Inhibitors of Metaloproteinases) estão envolvidos na oncogênese. Especificamente as MMP2 e MMP9 e seus inibidores, TIMP-2 e TIMP-1, respectivamente, foram relacionados ao prognóstico em tumores. Poucos trabalhos estudaram MMP e nenhum estudou a ação dos TIMP na MF. Objetivos: avaliar a relação entre MMP2 e MMP9 e seus inibidores TIMP2 e TIMP1 e a agressividade da MF e descrever a casuística de micose fungoide poiquilodérmica no ambulatório de linfomas cutâneos da Divisão de Clínica Dermatológica do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo. Métodos: análise retrospectiva de 54 casos de MFp, sendo 25 de MFp localizada 14 de MFp generalizada e 15 de MFp mista. Para análise das MMP e TIMP, os grupos de MFp foram comparados com 7 amostras de pele normal (PN), 10 casos de MF clássica inicial (MFi), 9 casos de MF tumoral não-transformada (MFT nt) e 10 de MF tumoral transformada (MFT t). Resultados: A proporção de mulheres: homens foi 2,44. MFp apresentou maior tempo entre os primeiros sintomas e o diagnóstico. MFpG apresentou maior prevalência de lesões do tipo pitiríase liquenoide crônica (PLC) (79%). Houve alta prevalência de MF hipocromiante (62%) no grupo MFp mista. A histologia da MFp apresentou características típicas de MF e, adicionalmente, atrofia, telangectasias e derrame pigmentar, específicos da forma poiquilodérmica. Na imuno-histoquímica predominou o fenótipo CD3+, CD4+, CD7-, CD8- em todos os grupos, e MFp apresentou significantemente menor predomínio do fenótipo CD8+ que o grupo MFi. O grupo MFpG apresentou baixa positividade para pesquisa de clonalidade T da pele (12,5%). A MMP2 esteve mais presente na epiderme em MFi e MFp relativamente a MFT. Na derme superficial, os grupos MFi e MFp marcaram mais MMP2 que a pele normal, mas sem diferença estatística entre eles. Não houve diferença estatística em MMP2 na derme profunda entre os grupos. À zimografia, houve maior atividade de MMP2 ativa no grupo MFTt. Não houve expressão de TIMP-2 pela epiderme da pele normal. Os grupos MFi e MFp marcaram TIMP-2 na epiderme de forma semelhante, porém menos que os grupos MFT. Na derme superficial, não houve diferença estatística entre os grupos MFi e MFp. TIMP-2 foi mais expresso na derme profunda dos dois grupos de MFT comparativamente a todos os outros grupos. Na epiderme e na derme superficial, MMP9 foi mais expressa no grupo MFi comparativamente a MFp. Na derme profunda, a expressão de MMP9 foi maior nos grupos MFT, seguido por MFi e, por último, MFp. A atividade de MMP9 foi maior no grupo MFT não transformada comparativamente aos outros grupos. TIMP-1, ne epiderme e na derme superficial e na derme profunda foi mais expresso no grupo MFi, comparativamente aos outros grupos. Discussão: MFpG apresentou mais lesões tipo PLC e a forma mista, lesões hipocrômicas. A histologia da MFp foi semelhante à descrita previamente na literatura, mas a baixa positividade de CD8 difere de relatos prévios. A MMP2 pareceu ser um marcador de atividade para MF, principalmente quando a sua presença por imunohistoquímica foi associada a dados de zimografia. A expressão de MMP9 nas amostras foi compatível com os dados prévios de literatura, tendo sido mais expressa nas formas mais agressivas de MF e, histologicamente, mais localizada nos locais de maior atividade do tumor. TIMP-1 foi expresso de forma análoga à MMP9, conforme descrito previamente na literatura. TIMP-2, por sua vez, seguiu o padrão de distribuição de MMP2. No entanto, não foi expresso pela pele normal e foi mais expresso pelos grupos de MFT, o que não ocorreu com a MMP2 na imuno-histoquímica. Conclusões: A expressão de MMP e TIMP correlacionou-se com o local de maior atividade linfocitária e com a agressividade da MF. A atividade da MMP2 e MMP9 foi maior nos grupos MFT comparativamente aos grupos mais indolentes. Separar os casos de MFp de acordo com suas apresentações localizadas, generalizada e mista foi relevante do ponto de vista clínico, laboratorial e evolutivo / Introduction: poikilodermatous mycosis fungoides (pMF) is a clinical variant of mycosis fungoides (MF). It is more indolent than classic MF and is characterized by the presence of poikiloderma. The matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their specific inhibitors TIMP (Tissue Inhibitors of Metalloproteinases) are involved in oncogenesis. Specifically, MMP2 and MMP9 and their inhibitors, TIMP-2 and TIMP-1, respectively, have been related to prognosis in tumors. There are few studies on MMP and none on the role of TIMPs in MF. Objectives: To evaluate if there is a relationship between the presence and activity of MMP2 and MMP9 and their inhibitors TIMP2 and TIMP1, and the aggressiveness of MF. To describe a casuistic of poikilodermatous mycosis fungoides in an outpatient clinic in the Dermatological Division of Hospital das Clinicas of University of Sao Paulo Medical School. Methods: Retrospective analysis of 54 cases of pMF, this included 25 localized pMF (LpMF), 14 generalized pMF (GpMF) and 15 mixed pMF. For the analysis of MMPs and TIMPs, the pMF groups were compared with 7 normal skin samples (NS), 10 cases of initial classical MF (cMF), 9 cases of non-transformed tumor MF (nt MFT) and 10 transformed tumor MF (t MFT). Results: The proportion of women : men was 2.44. The pMFs groups showed a longer period of time from the first symptoms to the diagnosis than the cMF group. The GpMF group had a higher incidence of pityriasis lichenoides chronica-like lesions (PLC) (79%) than the other groups. There was a high incidence of hypopigmented MF (62%) in the mixed pMF group. Histology showed typical characteristics of MF and, additionally, atrophy, telangiectasia and pigmentary alterations compatible with pMF. At immunohistochemistry the cases were predominantly CD3+, CD4+, CD7-, CD8- phenotype in all groups, and the pMF groups had a significantly lower prevalence of CD8+ phenotype than the cMF group. The GPMF group showed low positivity for clonality of the T-cell receptor at the T skin (12.5%) compared to the other groups. The MMP2 was more present in the epidermis for the cMF and pMF groups compared to MFT. In the superficial dermis, the cMF, LpMF and GpMF groups showed more MMP2 than normal skin, however there was no statistical difference between the three groups. There was no statistical difference in the presence of MMP2 in the deep dermis between the groups. The zymography showed higher MMP2 activity in the MFT group. There was no TIMP-2 expression by the normal epidermis. The epidermis of cMF and pMFs groups marked TIMP-2 in a similar way, but at a lower intensity than the MFT groups. In the superficial dermis, there was no statistical difference between the cMF and pMFs groups. TIMP-2 was more expressed in the deep dermis of the two MFT groups compared to all of the other groups. In the epidermis and superficial dermis, the MMP9 was more expressed in cMF compared to pMF groups. In the deep dermis, MMP9 expression was higher in the MFT groups, followed by cMF and finally pMF. The MMP9 activity was higher in the nt MFT group compared to other groups. TIMP-1, in epidermis, superficial dermis and deep dermis was more expressed in the cMF group compared to other groups. Discussion: The study confirmed that the pMF is an indolent form of MF and the time period between the symptoms and the diagnosis in pMF was longer than in classical MF. There were clinical differences amongst the groups of pMF. The GpMF group had a higher prevalence of PLC-like lesions than the mixed form of pMF, which had more hypochromic lesions. Histology of pMF was similar to descriptions provided in other case studies. However, the low CD8 positivity differs from previous reports. The MMP2 appeared to be a marker of activity for MF in our work, especially when their presence by immunohistochemistry was associated with the enzyme activity. The expression of MMP9 in our samples was consistent with previous data from other case studies, being more expressed in the most aggressive forms of MF and histologically more localized in most active sites of the tumor. TIMP-1 was expressed in an analogous manner to MMP9, as previously described in the literature. TIMP-2, in turn, followed the distribution pattern of MMP2. However, it was not expressed by normal skin and was more expressed by the MFT group, which did not occur with the MMP2 in immunohistochemistry. Conclusions: The expression of MMP and TIMP was correlated with the location of higher lymphocyte activity and with the aggressiveness of MF. The activity of MMP2 and MMP9 was higher in the MFT groups than the more indolent groups. It was important to split the pMF cases according to their presentation (GpMF, LpMF and mix pMF) from a clinical, laboratory and prognostic point of view

Os tumores hipofisários mesmo sendo, em sua maioria, benignos, podem apresentar comportamento invasivo, com extensão para seio cavernoso, seio esfenoidal e clivo. As metaloproteinases de matriz tipo 2 (MMP-2) e 9 (MMP-9) e o inibidor tecidual de metaloproteinases-2 (TIMP-2) têm sido estudados em relação ao comportamento invasivo desses tumores, em especial quanto à invasão do seio cavernoso. Esse estudo teve como objetivo avaliar a expressão proteica das MMP-2, MMP-9 e do TIMP-2 nos tumores hipofisários e sua relação com invasão do seio cavernoso e, de maneira inédita, investigar a expressão dessas proteínas em nível plasmático. Adicionalmente, foram avaliadas a expressão dos RNAs mensageiros (RNAm) das MMP-2 e TIMP-2 com intuito de correlacioná-las com a expressão proteica no tecido tumoral, bem como a expressão do marcador de proliferação Ki67. Foram selecionados 77 casos, todos com amostras de tumor emblocado em parafina para análise imuno-histoquímica (IHQ). Destes, foram coletadas amostras de tumor fresco em 29 pacientes e de sangue periférico pré-operatório em outros 29 casos. A expressão proteica plasmática foi detectada de forma semi-quantitativa utilizando um arranjo de anticorpos em membrana comercial. A expressão dos RNAm das MMP-2 e TIMP-2 foi avaliada por reação em cadeia da polimerase quantitativo (qPCR) em tempo real. Do total de casos, 20 pacientes apresentavam tumores com invasão para o seio cavernoso. A expressão proteica tumoral das MMP-2, MMP-9 e TIMP-2 apresentou-se aumentada no grupo invasivo, contudo esta diferença não foi estatisticamente significante em relação ao grupo não- invasivo. A expressão plasmática das MMP-9 e TIMP-2 também não mostrou diferença entre os dois grupos e não se correlacionou com a expressão tumoral. A expressão plasmática da MMP-2 não foi detectada em nenhum caso. Quanto à expressão do RNAm das MMP-2 e TIMP-2, também não houve diferença significante entre os grupos e nem correlação com a expressão proteica tecidual ou plasmática. Foi observada uma diferença significante na dimensão tumoral [3.6 (2.5-5.2) x 2.0 (1.3-2.7); P < 0.001] e no índice do Ki67 [1.05 (0.27-25) x 0.5 (0.2-1.0); P < 0.001] entre os grupos invasivo e não-invasivo respectivamente. Em conclusão, em nossa coorte, não foi encontrada relação entre a expressão tecidual e plasmática das MMP-2, MMP-9 e TIMP-2 e a invasão para o seio cavernoso nos adenomas hipofisários / Pituitary tumors, although mostly benign, may present invasive behavior, with extension to the cavernous sinus, sphenoid sinus and clivus. Type 2 (MMP-2) and type 9 (MMP-9) matrix metalloproteinases and the metalloproteinase tissue inhibitor type 2 (TIMP-2) have been studied in relation to the invasive behavior of these tumors, especially regarding invasion of the cavernous sinus. The aim of this study was to evaluate the protein expression of MMP-2, MMP-9 and TIMP-2 in pituitary tumors and its relation with invasion of the cavernous sinus and, in an unprecedented way, to investigate the expression of these proteins at the plasma level. Additionally, expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 messenger RNAs (mRNAs) was evaluated in order to correlate with protein expression in tumor tissue, as well as Ki67 proliferation marker expression. A total of 77 cases were selected, all of them with paraffin embedded tumor samples for immunohistochemical analysis (IHC). Of these, fresh tumor samples were collected in 29 patients and preoperative peripheral blood in another 29 cases. Protein plasma expression was detected semi-quantitatively using a commercial membrane antibody array. Expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 mRNAs was evaluated by quantitative realtime polymerase chain reaction (qPCR). Of the total cases, 20 patients presented tumors invasive to the cavernous sinus. Tumor protein expression of MMP-2, MMP-9 and TIMP-2 was increased in the invasive group, not reaching, however, statistically significant difference as compared with the non-invasive group. Plasma expression of MMP-9 and TIMP-2 also did not differ between the two groups and did not correlate with tumor expression. Plasma expression of MMP-2 was not detected in any case. Concerning MMP-2 and TIMP-2 mRNA expression, there was also no significant difference between groups and no correlation with tissue or plasma protein expression was observed. A significant difference was observed in tumor size [3.6 (2.5-5.2) x 2.0 (1.3-2.7); P < 0.001] and in the Ki67 index [1.05 (0.27-25) x 0.5 (0.2-1.0); P < 0.001] between the invasive and non-invasive groups respectively. In conclusion, in our cohort, no relationship was found between the tissue and plasma expression of MMP-2, MMP-9 and TIMP-2 and the invasion of the cavernous sinus in pituitary adenomas