title: The interaction between aromatase, metalloproteinase 2,9 and CD44 in breast cancer.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study intends to verify the expression levels and correlation of aromatase, matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2), matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) and CD44 in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC) when both are found in the same breast.
  
  
  METHODS
  One hundred and ten cases were evaluated by tissue microarray (TMA) and immunohistochemically screened with anti-aromatase polyclonal antibodies, anti-MMP-2 monoclonal antibodies, anti-MMP-9 polyclonal antibodies and anti-CD44 monoclonal antibodies.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Aromatase was expressed in IDC and DCIS in 63 (57.3%) and 60 (67%) of the cases respectively; MMP-2 was similarly expressed in IDC and DCIS in 15 (13.60%) cases; MMP-9 was positively expressed in IDC and DCIS in 83 (75.50%) and 82 (74.50%) cases, respectively; CD44 was positively expressed in IDC and DCIS in 49 (44.50%) and 48 (42.60%) of the cases, respectively; all of them were highly correlated (p<0,001). The correlation analysis found positive, statistically significant correlation, in IDC between aromatase and MMP-2 (p<0.001) and between aromatase and MMP-9 (p=0.034). Positive correlation between aromatase and MMP-2 (p<0.001) and between MMP-9 and CD44 (p=0.030) were found in DCIS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results allow us to conclude that aromatase through local estrogen synthesis in breast tissue plays an important role in breast carcinogenesis, mainly influencing MMP-2 and MMP-9 which are important participants in tumor cell invasion and dependence of their connection to CD44 for action.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Obstetrícia e Ginecologia, Santa Casa de Misericórdia de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP. fbagnoli@uol.com.br
authors.forename: Fábio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bagnoli
authors.forename: Vilmar Marques de
authors.initials: VM
authors.lastname: Oliveira
authors.forename: Maria Antonieta Longo Galvão da
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.forename: Giuliana Cássia Morrone
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Taromaru
authors.forename: José Francisco
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: Rinaldi
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Aoki
mesh_terms: D001141:Aromatase / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism*; D002278:Carcinoma in Situ / Q000378:metabolism*; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: C497483:CD44 protein, human; D018960:Hyaluronan Receptors; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D001141:Aromatase; D020778:Matrix Metalloproteinase 2; D020780:Matrix Metalloproteinase 9