Relationships between the level of matrix metalloproteinase-2 and tumor size of breast cancer.
BACKGROUND
The involvements of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in the pathogenesis of breast cancers have been established. We determined the concentrations of MMP-2 in serum samples and tumor tissues of breast cancer patients.


METHODS
Gelatin zymography and ELISA were used to measure MMP-2 and MMP-9 concentrations in 90 breast cancer patients, including 60 tissue samples and 30 serum samples.


RESULTS
ProMMP-2, activated MMP-2, proMMP-9 and activated MMP-9 levels were significantly higher in tumor tissues than that of corresponding paired adjacent normal tissue of 60 breast cancer patients (p<0.01). Further linear regression analysis has showed that the tumor size positively correlated with MMP-2 level in tumor tissue samples (R=0.55, p<0.0001), as well as with that of in serum samples (R=0.398, p=0.032). In addition, further statistical analysis for clinic pathological parameters revealed that MMP-2 level was significantly increased in patients with metastasis (p<0.05). Furthermore, MMP-2 level was significantly different between tumor grades (p=0.006).


CONCLUSIONS
MMP-2 levels in serum and tumor tissue might reflect the severity of invasion of breast cancer and various MMP inhibitors might be selectively used as potential anti-metastasis agents according to tumor size.
Institute of Medicine, Chung-Shan Medical University, Taichung 402, Taiwan.
Shu-Chih
SC
Liu
Shun-Fa
SF
Yang
Kun-Tu
KT
Yeh
Chung-Min
CM
Yeh
Hui-Ling
HL
Chiou
Ching-Yi
CY
Lee
Ming-Chih
MC
Chou
Yih-Shou
YS
Hsieh
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000032:analysis*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005780:Gelatin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000378:metabolism*; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012044:Regression Analysis; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2 / Q000502:physiology
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D019716:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-2; D005780:Gelatin; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2