title: Comparative analysis and clinical value of the expression of metalloproteases and their inhibitors by intratumour stromal mononuclear inflammatory cells and those at the invasive front of breast carcinomas.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Matrix metalloproteases (MMPs) and their inhibitors (TIMPs) play an essential role in the degradation of stromal connective tissue and basement membrane components. The aim of this study was to determine whether the dynamic analysis of these components can help to predict tumour aggressiveness.
  
  
  RESULTS
  An immunohistochemical study was performed using tissue arrays and specific antibodies against MMPs -1, -2, -7, -9, -11, -13 and -14 and TIMPs -1, -2 and -3. More than 5000 determinations on cancer specimens from 124 patients with invasive breast cancer were performed on the tumour centre core as well as on the invasive front. Immunostaining for MMPs/TIMPs on mononuclear inflammatory cells (MICs) was evaluated. To identify specific groups of tumours with distinct expression profiles, data obtained from both MICs populations were analysed by unsupervised hierarchical cluster analysis. When compared with MICs at the invasive front, intratumour MICs more frequently showed expression of MMP-7 and -1 and TIMP-3, but less frequently expression of MMP-9 and -11 and TIMP-2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data led us to consider the need of further studies in order to identify subsets of MICs and other protein elements of the microenvironment as attractive targets for new therapeutic strategies against cancer.
authors.affiliation: Unidad de Investigación, Fundación Hospital de Jove, Gijón, Spain.
authors.forename: Luis O
authors.initials: LO
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: Salomé
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: González-Reyes
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Marín
authors.forename: Lucía
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: González
authors.forename: Maria L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Lamelas
authors.forename: Antonio M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Merino
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rodríguez
authors.forename: Iván
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Pidal
authors.forename: José M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: del Casar
authors.forename: Alejandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Andicoechea
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Vizoso
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D018270:Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011379:Prognosis; D017154:Stromal Cells / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D046888:Tissue Array Analysis; D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D019714:Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases; D020782:Matrix Metalloproteinases