High levels of TIMP-2 correlate with adverse prognosis in breast cancer.
TIMP-2 is an endogenous inhibitor of MMPs. Most data from model systems suggest that high levels of this inhibitor prevent metastasis. In human breast cancers, however, we show that high levels of TIMP-2 correlate with both shortened disease-free interval and overall survival. In primary breast cancers, TIMP-2 levels showed no significant relationship with either tumor size or axillary node status but correlated inversely with estrogen receptor levels. TIMP-2 levels also correlated significantly with those for TIMP-1. We conclude that high levels of endogenous TIMP-2, like other protease inhibitors such as PAI-1 and TIMP-1, correlate with progression of human breast cancer.
Remacle
A
A
Laboratory of Tumor and Developmental Biology CHU, University of Liège, Sart-Tilman, Liège, Belgium.
McCarthy
K
K
Noël
A
A
Maguire
T
T
McDermott
E
E
O'Higgins
N
N
Foidart
J M
JM
Duffy
M J
MJ
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000378:metabolism*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D011379:Prognosis; D016019:Survival Analysis; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000378:metabolism; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D061965:Matrix Metalloproteinase Inhibitors; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2