title: Matrix metalloproteinase 1 and circulating tumor cells in early breast cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in cancer invasion and metastasis. Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) play role in tumor dissemination and are an independent survival predictor in breast cancer (BC) patients. The aim of this study was to assess correlation between CTCs and tumor MMP1 in BC.
  
  
  METHODS
  Study included 149 primary BC patients treated by surgery from March 2012 to March 2013. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) were depleted of hematopoietic cells using RossetteSep(TM) selection kit. RNA extracted from CD45-depleted PBMC was interrogated for expression of EMT (TWIST1, SNAIL1, SLUG, ZEB1) and epithelial (CK19) gene transcripts by qRT-PCR. Patient samples with higher epithelial and/or mesenchymal gene transcripts than those of healthy donors (n = 60) were considered as CTC positive. Expression of MMP1 in surgical specimens was evaluated by immunohistochemistry.
  
  
  RESULTS
  CTCs were detected in 24.2% patients. CTCs exhibiting only epithelial markers were present in 8.7% patients, whereas CTCs with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers (CTC_EMT) were observed in 13.4% of patients and CTCs co-expressing both markers were detected in 2.0% patients. Patients with CTC_EMT in peripheral blood had significantly increased expression of MMP1 in tumor cells (p = 0.02) and tumor associated stroma (p = 0.05) than those of patients without CTC_EMT. In multivariate analysis, CTC_EMT and tumor grade were independently associated with MMP1 expression in cancer cells, while CTC_EMT and Ki67 were independently associated with MMP1 expression in cancer associated stroma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our data suggest link between MMP1 and CTCs with EMT phenotype and support role of MMPs and EMT in tumor dissemination.
authors: Zuzana
authors: Z
authors: Cierna
authors: Translational Research Unit, Comenius University, Bratislava, Slovakia. misomego@gmail.com.
authors: Michal
authors: M
authors: Mego
authors: Pavol
authors: P
authors: Janega
authors: Marian
authors: M
authors: Karaba
authors: Gabriel
authors: G
authors: Minarik
authors: Juraj
authors: J
authors: Benca
authors: Tatiana
authors: T
authors: Sedlácková
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Cingelova
authors: Paulina
authors: P
authors: Gronesova
authors: Denisa
authors: D
authors: Manasova
authors: Daniel
authors: D
authors: Pindak
authors: Jozef
authors: J
authors: Sufliarsky
authors: Ludovit
authors: L
authors: Danihel
authors: James M
authors: JM
authors: Reuben
authors: Jozef
authors: J
authors: Mardiak
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*; D018450:Disease Progression; D058750:Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1 / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009360:Neoplastic Cells, Circulating / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology*
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D020781:Matrix Metalloproteinase 1