Correlation of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and P21 expressions with capsular invasion of Thymoma AB

Abstract

Thymomas are the common neoplasms of mediastinum, and type AB is the most frequent case. All thymomas are potential for invasion to adjacent tissues and considered malignant. Capsular invasion is one of its prognostic indicators. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) is a family of proteinases that has the ability to degrade a component of extracellular matrix and affect tumor invasion and or metastasis. Cytoplasmic expression of p21 protein can be significantly correlated with invasion and metastasis. The correlation of these two proteins in thymoma has not been widely studied, hence we aimed to analyze the expression of MMP-2 and p21 and investigate their correlation with capsular invasion of thymoma AB. This cross-sectional study was performed on the 24 paraffin-embedded samples of thymomectomy during January 2013-Desember 2019 at Anatomical Pathology Laboratory of Dr. Soetomo General Hospital Surabaya. The samples were devided based on capsular invasion into 2 groups. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to detect expression of p21 and MMP-2. The correlation was statistically analyzed using Spearman test. There was no significant difference of MMP-2 expression between thymoma with capsular invasion and without capsular invasion (p=0.839), and also no significant difference of p21 expression between thymoma with capsular invasion and without capsular invasion (p=0.816). No correlation of MMP-2 and p21 expressions in thymoma AB was revealed (p=0.255). In thymoma AB, the expression of MMP-2 and p21 were not correlate with capsular invasion. These results may contribute to the development of thymoma research.