Aim of the work: To analyze the expression of both Ki-67 and MMP-7 proteins in malignant salivary gland tumors by immunohistochemistery and correlate the results with lymph node metastasis and some clinical parameters including sex, site and type of the tumor.
Material and Methods: The study was retrospectively designed. Thirty formalin fixed paraffin embedded blocks of different malignant salivary gland tumors were stained immunohistochemically for both Ki-67 and MMP-7. Immunostainig was evaluated and results were analyzed statistically in relation to lymph node metastasis and some clinical parameters as sex, site and type of the tumor. P Value ≤ 0.05 was considered significant.
Results: High Ki-67 (P=0.0001) and MMP-7 expression (P=0.0001) was associated with lymph node metastasis. Ki-67 and MMP-7 immunostaining was not affected by either sex or site of the tumor but there was high association with type of the tumor.
Conclusion: MMPs and Ki-67 may have prognostic impact in malignant salivary gland tumors and can be used in molecular targeted therapy.