Introduction

Lymphoma is a lymphoproliferative disease characterized by clonal proliferation of malignant lymphocytes within lymphoid organs, mainly affecting the lymph nodes, or other solid visceral organs, with prognosis that depends on several factors, including tissue invasion. Proteolytic enzymes MMP-2 and MMP-9 have been studied as to the importance of tumor progression in this process by propitiating the penetration and cellular infiltration.

Objectives

Considering the current importance of these enzymes and the role not grounded in hematopoietic malignancies, the aim of this study was to establish the relationship between matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 and prognostic factors of canine multicentric lymphoma such as tumor staging, immunophenotyping, histological grade of malignancy, and response to treatment.

Methods

We evaluated the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in 22 dogs affected by multicentric lymphoma and 6 healthy dogs by immunohistochemistry technique of lymph node and zymography electrophoresis of lymph node and serum.

Results

We observed increased expression of MMP-9 tissue in animals with multicentric lymphoma by immunohistochemistry technique, no exact correlation with prognosis. Zymography electrophoresis of lymph node demonstrated correlation of MMP-9 with T-cell phenotype and progressive disease, inferring possible negative prognosis regarding survival. Values of MMP-2 showed no clear relation with the tumoral process, as well as serum levels of the two enzymes.

Conclusions

The proteolytic enzyme MMP-9 demonstrated involvement in the neoplastic process of canine multicentric lymphoma, but without accurate prognostic determination.