Collagenase and Protease Activities in Head and Neck Tumors

Abstract

An analysis of specimens of 43 head and neck tumors revealed that collagenase and protease activities paralleled each other and varied according to the anatomic site; highest activities were in tongues and tonsils, which are known to have low five-year survival rates. The greatest differences in both enzyme activities were observed in the studies of histologic patterns and tumor differentiation. The ulcerated tumors with inflammatory infiltrates having high enzyme activities suggest that collagenase and protease may be derived from inflammatory cells.COLLAGENA'lE and protease are two major factors in the breakdown of connective tissues in normal physiologic and pathologic processes.' The mechanism underlying tumor invasion is still not well understood, but must include the breakdown of collagen, a principal structural protein in the connective tissue. We have studied collagenase and protease activities in specimens of head and neck tumors to determine if the levels of collagenase and protease activities could be correlated with the clinical behavior of the disease. This paper reports collagenase and protease activities in specimens of head and neck tumors from various sites and the correlation of the levels of collagenase and protease activities with the clinical and histologic behavior of the tumors.

Lysis of type‐i collagen by squamous carcinomas of the head and neck

“…The observations with fresh tissue homogenates are broadly consistent with previous studies on collagenolysis by squamous cancers of the head and neck (Hashimoto et al, 1973;Abramson et al, 1975;Huang et al, 1980Huang et al, , 1982, but 3 specific points of difference between the present findings and other accounts should be noted. We have not found variations in collagenolysis between tumours at different anatomical sites.…”

“…We have not found variations in collagenolysis between tumours at different anatomical sites. Lytic activity has not been shown to carry any consistent prognostic significance (Abramson et al, 1975;Huang et al, 1980). Collagenolysis by control tissues is high in the present series, perhaps as a consequence of the more frequent use of pre-operative irradiation and/or chemotherapy.…”

“…There is also one difference to note with respect to techniques. Abramson et al (1975) and Huang et al (1980Huang et al ( , 1982 have previously recorded collagenolysis in serum-free explant cultures which were maintained for 4 days; we have studied similar cultures grown with serum for up to 4 weeks. The longer period of growth provided an opportunity to examine the evolution of total collagenase production and to show clearer differences between tumours and non-neoplastic control tissues.…”

“…The underlying mechanisms are ill-understood. Some investigators have examined collagenolytic factors associated with tumours from various mucosal and cutaneous sites in this region (Yaminishi et al, 1972;Dresden et al, 1972;Hashimoto et al, 1973;Abramson et al, 1975;Huang et al, 1980Huang et al, , 1982. In general, collagenolysis has been reported at higher levels in tumour tissues than in control tissues.…”

Release of Proteinases by Cultures of Human Cell Lines Derived from Squamous Carcinomas of the Tongue and Larynx

“…On the basis of clinicopathological studies, the patterns of spread of these carcinomas have been re ported [3][4][5]16]. Particular interest was con cerned with the mechanisms of invasion, as the tumor-associated destruction of soft tis sues and bone [17], the production of pro teinases, with emphasis to the collagénases [10,11] and plasminogen activators [7], and the locomotory activity of squamous carci noma cells [8]. Eastyet al [7] established ten cell lines of human carcinomas of the tongue and larynx in order to provide systems for investigating the invasive behavior of these tumors.…”