title: Different expression patterns of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in breast cancer.
abstract: Among the many biological characteristics of cancer, the matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs) is essential for tumor invasion and metastasis. The relationship between MMP-2 and MMP-9 according to tumor progression has not been studied yet. We evaluated the synchronous expression and activation rate of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in breast cancer tissues and compared them to the clinical parameters in order to determine the clinical significance of MMPs and the possibilities of using them as a therapeutic target. The activity of MMPs was evaluated in 121 breast cancer tissues using zymography and the area of activation was calculated by computer-assisted densitometry in comparison to the activity of a positive control (HT-1080). In 121 tumor tissues, 32 (26.4%) did not express any form of MMPs and 19 (15.7%) showed both expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9. We observed that only one tissue expressed MMP-9 alone, while MMP-2 alone was expressed in 69 tissues. In 88 patients with MMP-2 and/or MMP-9 expression, we were unable to observe any correlation between the activity of MMPs expression or activation rate and the clinical parameters. But MMP-2 and MMP-9 activity increased according to T factor. Rapid production of MMP-9 occurred from T2 (p=0.046), while that of MMP-2 occurred from T3 (p=0.004). In conclusion, MMPs activity was organ specific. The major MMPs in breast cancer was MMP-2 and MMPs activity was different with tumor progression. When MMPs are a specific therapeutic target, we should use different inhibitors according to tumor size, in patients at the same stage.
authors.affiliation: Yonsei Cancer Center, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seodaemun-gyu, Seoul 120-752, Korea.
authors.forename: S Y
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Rha
authors.forename: W I
authors.initials: WI
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: J H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Roh
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Min
authors.forename: K S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: B S
authors.initials: BS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Chung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D017364:Collagenases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D004789:Enzyme Activation; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D018093:Gelatinases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006801:Humans; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D017364:Collagenases; D018093:Gelatinases; D008666:Metalloendopeptidases; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9