{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,1]],"date-time":"2026-09-01T23:06:44Z","timestamp":1788304004119,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":48,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"7","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,2]],"date-time":"2025-07-02T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1751414400000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Life"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Epithelial\u2013mesenchymal transition (EMT) is one of the key steps in cutaneous carcinogenesis. At the molecular level, this cellular dedifferentiation is modulated by the interaction of signalling pathways that favour basement membrane degradation under the influence of proinflammatory cytokines and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Given the intricate role of these endopeptidases in modulating extracellular matrix turnover, the present study aimed primarily to identify the MMP-2 expression profile during the early stages of cutaneous malignant transformation. Forty-eight lesions with malignant transformation potential were excised in healthy tissue. Following the histopathological diagnosis of keratoacanthoma, Bowen\u2019s disease and actinic keratosis, the biological preparations were deparaffinised and homogenised in order to perform the FRET technique using the \u201cMMP-2 Assay Kit Fluorometric\u201d. The results of the previous part of this research indicate that MMP-2 expression is more intense in lesions of actinic keratosis compared to normal tissues and to keratoacanthoma or Bowen\u2019s disease lesions, inversely proportional to the histopathological degree of dysplasia. Monitoring metalloproteinase activity in dysplastic epithelium may improve the detection of malignant transformation and guide treatment decisions.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/life15071060","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,7,2]],"date-time":"2025-07-02T06:10:26Z","timestamp":1751436626000},"page":"1060","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":1,"title":["MMP-2\u2014Potential Predictor of Epithelial\u2013Mesenchymal Transition in Squamous Cell Carcinogenesis"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8622-5125","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Doini\u021ba","family":"Temelie-Olinici","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Morpho-Functional Sciences II, \u201cGrigore T. Popa\u201d University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-4923-8020","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Walther","family":"Bild","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Morpho-Functional Sciences II, \u201cGrigore T. Popa\u201d University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania"},{"name":"Center of Anthropologic and Biomedical Research of the Romanian Academy Iasi, 700505 Iasi, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0793-6982","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Laura","family":"Gheuc\u0103-Solov\u0103stru","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dermatology, \u201cGrigore T. Popa\u201d University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5308-7192","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Mihaela","family":"Per\u021bea","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department Plastic Surgery and Reconstructive, Faculty of Medicine, \u201cGrigore T. Popa\u201d University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania"},{"name":"Department of Plastic Surgery and Reconstructive Microsurgery, \u201cSf. Spiridon\u201d Emergency County Hospital, 700111 Iasi, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Daniela-Anicu\u021ba","family":"Leca","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Infectious Diseases (Internal Medicine II), Faculty of Medicine, \u201cGrigore T. Popa\u201d University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Bogdan-Vasile","family":"Grecu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Morpho-Functional Sciences II, \u201cGrigore T. Popa\u201d University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2587-7549","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ioana-Alina","family":"Halip","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dermatology, \u201cGrigore T. Popa\u201d University of Medicine and Pharmacy, 700115 Iasi, Romania"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8043-5730","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"M\u0103d\u0103lina","family":"Mocanu","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Dermatology, \u201cGrigore T. 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