ABSTRACT. Cumulated evidence indicates that matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) is significantly involved in cancer progression. Recent studies yielded conflicting results regarding the association between serum MMP-3 and ankylosing spondylitis (AS). To clarify this correlation, we performed a meta-analysis. Potential relevant studies were identified by searching the following databases: PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Science Citation Index database, the Cochrane Library, Current Contents Index, Chinese Biomedical, the Chinese Journal Full-Text, and the Weipu Journal. Data from eligible studies were extracted and included into the meta-analysis using a random-effect model. Standardized mean differences (SMDs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the association between serum MMP-3 levels and AS. Thirteen case-control studies, including 707 AS cases and 442 healthy controls, were selected for the meta-analysis. The results indicate a significantly higher serum MMP-3 level in patients with AS than that in the controls (cases vs controls: SMD = 1.31, 95%CI = 0.84-1.78, P < 0.001). Ethnicity-subgroup analysis indicated a higher MMP-3 level in Asian and Caucasian patients with AS (all P < 0.05). This meta-analysis indicates that increased serum MMP-3

Abstract. Various published studies have been inconclusive in attempting to relate a family history of breast and/or ovarian cancer (BOC) to the survival of breast cancer patients. The aim of the study was to investigate the association of a family history of BOC with tumor characteristics, treatment response and the difference between the prognosis of familial breast cancer (FBC) patients and sporadic breast cancer (SBC) patients. Data on 348 operable FBC patients and 345 SBC patients were retrospectively analyzed. The overall survival (OS) and recurrence/metastasis-free survival (RFS) were compared for both groups. FBC cases were diagnosed at a relatively younger age (51.1±10.4 vs. 53.7±11.0 years, P=0.054) and presented a lower T stage (P=0.000) than the SBC cases. Patients with a family history of BOC had a significantly greater risk of recurrence/metastasis (P=0.04) and a non-significantly increased risk of death (P=0.06) compared to the SBC patients. In a multivariate analysis, family history of BOC was an independent predictive factor for both recurrence/metastasis rate (P=0.01, HR=0.012, 95% CI 0.02-0.57) and mortality (P=0.044, HR=0.43, in the hormone receptor-positive population. Our results found that women diagnosed with FBC had an early onset of disease in the population studied, and the poor outcome of patients with a family history of BOC associated with survival was restricted to the hormone receptor-positive population.