title: Plasma levels and diagnostic utility of VEGF, MMP-9, and TIMP-1 in the diagnosis of patients with breast cancer.
abstract: Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), matrix metalloproteinase-9, and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 may play a role in the pathogenesis of cancer disease. We investigated their levels and utility in comparison to cancer antigen (CA) 15-3 in patients with breast cancer (BC) and in relation to the control groups. The study included 100 women with BC, 50 patients with benign breast tumor, and 50 healthy women. The plasma levels of the tested parameters were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, while CA 15-3 with chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay. The results demonstrated significant differences in the concentration of the tested parameters and CA 15-3 between groups of patients with BC and healthy patients or patients with benign breast tumor. The plasma levels of VEGF and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1 were significantly higher in advanced tumor stages. The tested parameters were comparable to CA 15-3 values of the diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, the predictive values of positive and negative test results, and the area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve. The combined use of the tested parameters with CA 15-3 resulted in the increase in sensitivity, negative predictive value, and area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve, especially in the combination of VEGF with tumor marker (84%, 73%, 0.888, respectively). These findings suggest the usefulness of the tested parameters in the diagnosis of BC. VEGF, especially in combination with CA 15-3, showed the highest usefulness in the diagnosis of early BC.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemical Diagnostics, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Sławomir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ławicki
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemical Diagnostics, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Zajkowska
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Esthetic Medicine, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Edyta Katarzyna
authors.initials: EK
authors.lastname: Głażewska
authors.affiliation: Department of Hematological Diagnostics, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Grażyna Ewa
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Będkowska
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemical Diagnostics, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland.
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szmitkowski
keywords: CA 15-3; diagnostic panel; gelatinase B; growth factor; tumor markers