IntroductionMatrix metalloproteinase-12 (MMP-12) may play an important role in the pathogenesis and spread of psoriatic disease.AimTo investigate plasma levels of the selected enzyme in plaque psoriasis patients before and after the course of narrowband UVB (NBUVB) therapy with respect to disease advancement.Material and methodsThe cohort included 49 patients suffering from plaque psoriasis, divided into groups according to severity of the disease. The control group consisted of 40 healthy volunteers. Plasma levels of MMP-12 were determined using immunoenzyme assay (ELISA), while the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) was used to define disease advancement.ResultsThe results have shown a significantly decreased plasma level of MMP-12 in the total psoriasis patient group compared to healthy individuals, declining with the increase in disease advancement. The NBUVB therapy caused a decrease in the concentration of the analyzed enzyme, but this change was not statistically significant in the total group of psoriatic patients, while a significant change was detected in patients with a mild advancement of the disease.ConclusionsDecreased synthesis of MMP-12 may lead to the stimulation of the epidermal angiogenesis process, which results in the appearance and spread of psoriatic scales. Based on the obtained results, macrophage metalloelastase seems to be a negatively reacting plasma biomarker of the studied disease.

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INTRODUCTION Macrophage-colony stimulating factor (M-CSF) is one of the glycoproteins called hematopoetic growth factors. The direct production of this cytokine has been reported in tumor cell lines in vitro and in solid tumors in vivo. OBJECTIVES In the present study, the levels of M-CSF in patients with breast cancer and in those with a benign breast tumor were evaluated. Moreover, diagnostic values were determined through assesing diagnostic sensitivity and specificity as well as predictive value of positive (PV +ve) and negative (PV-ve) results. The results obtained were compared to the CA 15-3 and a control group. PATIENTS AND METHODS The study group was made up of 70 patients with breast cancer and 20 patients with benign tumors and the control group of 30 healthy women. M-CSF was assayed using an ELISA method. CA 15-3 was measured by means of an immunoenzymatic method (MEIA) from ABBOT. RESULTS Statistically higher levels of M-CSF and CA 15-3 were found in breast cancer patients as compared to the benign tumor and control groups. These levels were also significantly higher in patients with more advanced stages of cancer. A positive correlation between M-CSF and CA 15-3 levels was observed. The diagnostic sensitivity of M-CSF (58%), a specificity (93%), PV +ve (94%) and PV-ve (43%) were higher or equal to the values obtained for CA 15-3 (49%, 93%, 93% and 40%, respectively). When both para meters studied were determined jointly, sensitivity increased to 72%. CONCLUSIONS The above data suggests that M-CSF might be useful in both diagnostics and differential diagnosis of benign tumors and breast cancer (except for the lowest degree of the clinical progression).