Tumor tissue levels of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 as a prognostic marker in primary breast cancer.
OBJECTIVE
In the present study, we investigated the association between tumor tissue levels of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 (TIMP-1) and prognosis in patients with primary breast cancer and analyzed whether TIMP-1 may be useful as a prognostic marker in combination with urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA) and plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1).


METHODS
In cytosolic extracts of 2984 primary breast tumors, total levels of TIMP-1 were determined using an established, validated ELISA. Levels of uPA and PAI-1 have previously been determined in the extracts.


RESULTS
Univariate survival analysis showed a significant relationship between higher levels of TIMP-1 (continuous log-transformed variable) and poor prognosis [recurrence-free survival (RFS), overall survival (OS); P < 0.001]. Performing isotonic regression analysis, we identified a cut point to classify tumors as TIMP-1-low or TIMP-1-high. Using this cut point, high levels of TIMP-1 were significantly associated with shorter survival in univariate analysis, both in the total patient group (RFS, OS; P < 0.001), in the node-negative subgroup (RFS, hazard ratio = 1.28, P = 0.006), and in the node-positive subgroup (RFS, hazard ratio = 1.43, P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, including uPA and PAI-1, TIMP-1 was significantly associated with shorter RFS, both when included as a continuous log-transformed (P = 0.03) and as a dichotomized variable (P = 0.002).


CONCLUSIONS
This study validates previous findings that tumor tissue levels of TIMP-1 are associated with prognosis in patients with primary breast cancer. It confirms that TIMP-1 may be useful as a prognostic marker in combination with uPA/PAI-1 and adds substantial positive information on the use of TIMP-1 as a prognostic marker in breast cancer.
Schrohl
Anne-Sofie
AS
The Royal Veterinary and Agricultural University, Department of Pharmacology and Pathobiology, Frederiksberg C, Denmark. sofie@kvl.dk
Holten-Andersen
Mads N
MN
Peters
Harry A
HA
Look
Maxine P
MP
Meijer-van Gelder
Marion E
ME
Klijn
Jan G M
JG
Brünner
Nils
N
Foekens
John A
JA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics*; D003600:Cytosol / Q000378:metabolism; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism; D016017:Odds Ratio; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000235:genetics*; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone / Q000378:metabolism; D013997:Time Factors; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator / Q000378:metabolism*
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D011980:Receptors, Progesterone; D019715:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1; D014568:Urokinase-Type Plasminogen Activator