Significance of membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase expression in breast cancer.
Expression of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) plays an essential role in tumor metastasis and invasion through the degradation of extracellular matrix (ECM). MT1-MMP (membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase), a membrane-type MMP, is responsible for the activation of MMP2. In this study the significance of MT1-MMP expression in human breast tumors was investigated by immunocytochemical assay, and its correlation with clinicobiological features was analyzed. MT1-MMP expression was detected in tumor cells and/or stromal cells, and there was a strong correlation between the expressions of MT1-MMP in the two cell types. Out of 183 primary tumors, 103 (56.2%) showed positive staining of MT1-MMP in tumor cells. MT1-MMP expression showed no significant correlation with any of the clinicobiological parameters examined, including hormone receptor status and angiogenesis. In postoperative survival analysis, MT1-MMP expression itself was not a significant prognostic factor. However, in the particular subgroup with the accumulation of thymidine phosphorylase (TP)-positive stromal cells, which have been activated by various stimuli, such as cytokines and hypoxia, MT1-MMP expression had a significant prognostic value. These data suggested that MT1-MMP might function cooperatively with tumor-associated stromal cells for the progression of breast cancer.
Ishigaki
S
S
Department of Surgery, Tokyo Metropolitan Komagome Hospital.
Toi
M
M
Ueno
T
T
Matsumoto
H
H
Muta
M
M
Koike
M
M
Seiki
M
M
D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology; D017364:Collagenases / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1; D008566:Membranes / Q000201:enzymology; D009389:Neovascularization, Pathologic; D011184:Postoperative Period; D011379:Prognosis; D015996:Survival Rate
D017364:Collagenases; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1