title: Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) immunoreactive protein has modest prognostic value in locally advanced breast carcinoma patients treated with an adjuvant antiestrogen therapy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved with tumour invasion and metastasis. Controversial data exists concerning the prognostic value of MMP-9 in breast carcinoma. We examined, here, whether the MMP-9 immunoreactive protein would correlate with--the prognosis in breast carcinoma treated with hormonal adjuvant therapy.
  
  
  METHODS
  The MMP-9 status was determined immunohistochemically from primary tumour specimens in 168 postmenopausal breast cancer patients with a locally advanced (N+) disease treated with antiestrogen for three years after the primary therapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A positive immunostaining for MMP-9 was found in 61.3% of 168 primary tumours without any significant correlation to clinical stage, histology or hormone receptor status. MMP-9 immunoreactivity did not correlate with the survival when the entire study population was included in the analysis. There was, however, a compromised disease-free survival in a subgroup of patients presenting with an estrogen receptor-negative and MMP-9-positive tumour. The 5-year disease-free survival was only 37% in those patients, when it was 63% in the patients with a tumour negative for both estrogen receptor and MMP-9.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We suggest that the prognostic value of MMP-9 immunoreactivity in the primary tumour is not generally strong in breast carcinoma, but it might correlate with the clinical benefit of an antiestrogen therapy, since MMP-9 positivity seemed to correlate with early recurrence in patients with an estrogen receptor-negative primary tumour.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Oncology, University of Oulu, Oulu University Hospital, Finland. eeva.rahko@ppshp.fi
authors.forename: Eeva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rahko
authors.forename: Arja
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jukkola
authors.forename: Jukka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Melkko
authors.forename: Pääkkö
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Paavo
authors.forename: Risto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bloigu
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Talvensaari-Mattila
authors.forename: Taina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Turpeenniemi-Hujanen
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology; D044584:Carcinoma, Ductal / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D020847:Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000201:enzymology / Q000473:pathology; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000378:metabolism; D013629:Tamoxifen / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017312:Toremifene / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D018931:Antineoplastic Agents, Hormonal; D020847:Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen; D013629:Tamoxifen; D017312:Toremifene; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9