Plasma levels of matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 correlate with histological grade in breast cancer patients

Abstract

Abstract. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are proteolytic enzymes involved in the process of tumor invasion and metastasis that are found throughout tissues and also in the plasma. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the evaluation of plasma concentrations of MMPs 2, 3 and 9 may have clinical significance in breast cancer. Therefore, sera obtained from 80 patients with breast neoplasia (50 carcinomas and 30 fibroadenomas) were collected before and 96 h after surgery and the concentrations of MMPs 2, 3 and 9 were quantified using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The mean expression level of MMP 2 was significantly higher in carcinoma compared with that in fibroadenoma patients, while there was no significant difference for MMPs 3 and 9. In addition, the group of carcinoma patients was analyzed in order to compare the mean values for each MMP obtained before and after surgery. However, the differences between pre-and post-surgery values for all three MMPs were not statistically significant. Furthermore, the plasma levels of each MMP were correlated with certain clinicopathological parameters of the tumors and we observed a significant and direct correlation between the concentrations of MMPs 2 and 9 and tumor histological grade. These data suggest that the quantification of plasma MMP 2 and MMP 9 levels may provide additional clinical information of the tumor and it is, therefore, a possible prognostic index for breast cancer.

Matrix-metalloproteinases as targets for controlled delivery in cancer: An analysis of upregulation and expression

“…Of the articles included in the database, methods utilized for upregulation quantification included: immunohistochemistry, qPCR, microarray analysis, Western blotting, ELISA, substrate zymography, and fluorogenic MMP substrates. Despite having discovered MMP upregulation in a variety of fluids (pleural effusion fluid[84], serum[85], plasma[86], ascitic fluid[87], sputum[88], pancreatic juices[89], urine[90], fecal material[91], bronchoalveolar lavage fluid[92], nipple aspirate fluids[93], and cerebrospinal fluid[94]), only literature evaluating normal and diseased human tissues was included in the database. Serum and plasma MMP concentrations were not included as upregulated cancer patient serum concentrations are often an order of magnitude lower than tissues obtained from healthy patients[85,95].…”

Correlation between plasma angiopoietin-1, angiopoietin-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-2 in coronary heart disease

“…Ang-1, Ang-2 and MMP-2 were measured by commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) as previously described in detail [10, 11]. All assays were performed in duplicate.…”

Pathogenesis of Breast Cancer Metastasis to Brain: a Comprehensive Approach to the Signaling Network

“…It results in tumor evolution through stimulation of tumor fibroblasts and angiogenesis [74]. Among MMPs, MMP-2 and MMP-9 are known as type IV collagenases, or as an alternative gelatinase A and B, respectively [78]. Upon their function, MMP2/9 degrade type IV collagen, which is believed to be involved as a main component of the vascular basement membrane structure [75,79].…”