Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) and immunosuppressive biomarker profiles of seven head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cell lines

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the sixth most common form of cancer by incidence worldwide (1). In HNSCC, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) degrade extracellular matrix and the basement membrane, which is associated with tumor invasion and metastasis (2). MMPs have also been implicated in tumor progression due to their ability to activate growth factors and enhance angiogenesis (3). Despite this known association, the expression of these MMPs in relation to other biomarkers has not been fully investigated in HNSCC (4)