Inverted Papilloma

Inverted papilloma (IP) is a benign sinonasal tumor characterized by proliferation of the epithelial layer and inversion of the epithelium into the underlying stroma, while maintaining an intact basement membrane. It has a relatively high recurrence rate of up to about 20%, and although it is a benign lesion, IP has a 5-15% chance of conversion to squamous cell carcinoma (SCCa). We are interested in studying the mechanisms associated with malignant transformation of IP from a benign lesion to squamous cell carcinoma. Our recent work suggests that matrix metalloproteinase-11 (MMP-11) has a potential role in the malignant transformation process by regulating epithelial migration and invasion. We also demonstrated that IP can be successfully cultured in air-liquid interface cultures, establishing an in-vitro platform to study IP and laying the groundwork for future investigations into the mechanisms associated with IP growth and transformation.