title: Circulating levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and their complex MMP-9/NGAL in breast cancer disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Recent evidence suggests that neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) expression is induced in many types of human cancer, while detection of its complex with matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is correlated with cancer disease status. We aim to evaluate the serum expression of MMP-9, NGAL and their complex (MMP-9/NGAL) during the diagnostic work-up of women with breast abnormalities and investigate their correlation with disease severity.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study included 113 women with non-palpable breast lesions undergoing vacuum-assisted breast biopsy for histological diagnosis, and 30 healthy women, which served as controls. Expression levels of MMP-9, NGAL and their complex MMP-9/NGAL were determined in peripheral blood samples with immunoenzymatic assays.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Women with invasive ductal carcinoma exhibited significantly increased levels of MMP-9, NGAL and MMP-9/NGAL compared to healthy controls (MMP-9: p < 0.003, NGAL: p < 0.008 MMP-9/NGAL: p < 0.01). Significant correlations were observed between MMP-9 and NGAL serum levels and breast disease severity score (r = 0.229, p < 0.006 and r = 0.206, p < 0.01, respectively), whereas a non-significant correlation was found for their complex. MMP-9, NGAL and their complex MMP-9/NGAL levels were not correlated with either Body Mass Index (BMI) or age of patients.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These findings suggest that the serum measurement of MMP-9 and NGAL may be useful in non-invasively monitoring breast cancer progression, while supporting their potential role as early biomarkers of breast disease status.
authors.affiliation: Research Center, Hellenic Anticancer Institute, Athens, Greece. xprovatopoulou@yahoo.gr
authors.forename: Xeni
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Provatopoulou
authors.forename: Antonia
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gounaris
authors.forename: Eleni
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kalogera
authors.forename: Flora
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zagouri
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Flessas
authors.forename: Evgenios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Goussetis
authors.forename: Afroditi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nonni
authors.forename: Ioannis
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Papassotiriou
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zografos
mesh_terms: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D000071068:Lipocalin-2; D054834:Lipocalins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011485:Protein Binding; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; C489506:LCN2 protein, human; D000071068:Lipocalin-2; D054834:Lipocalins; D011518:Proto-Oncogene Proteins; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9