Detection and Localization of Latent Membrane Protein and Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 In Patients With Transitional Cell Carcinoma (Tcc) of The Bladder

Background: Transitional Cell Carcinomas (TCC) of the urinary bladder constituted a major health problem and can be a leading cause of death. Recently some studies link viral infection with bladder carcinoma as an important etiological factor. There are several proteolytic enzymes which are responsible for the degradation of the extra cellular components and have an essential role in tumor invasion and metastasis such as Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9). Objective: To investigated the correlation between latent membrane protein-1(LMP-1) and MMP-9 with tumorgenesis of transitional cell carcinoma of bladder.  Materials and methods: Fifty formalin fixed, paraffin embedded tissues with TCC of the bladder from Specialized Surgical Hospital in Baghdad were included in this study. In addition, ten healthy individual samples exposed to same procedure were considered as control group. Tissue blocks were sectioned on charged slides and used for the detection of LMP-1 and MMP-9. Results: Latent membrane protein-1 localized by Immunohistochemistry (IHC) within the nuclei of cancer cell was detected in 22 cases (44%). While MMP-9 was detected in 32 cases (64 %) during used in situ hybridization (ISH). Statistical analysis was found significant differences between expressions of LMP-1, MMP-9 in TCC of the bladder. Conclusion: The results of the present study suggested that EBV and MMP-9 may play an important role in tumor sections of TCC of the bladder or could facilitate its progression. Histopathological, epidemiological and molecular studies are necessary to confirm our observation in Iraqi populations