Significance of Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 Expression as Supporting Marker to Cytokeratin 19 mRNA in Sentinel Lymph Nodes in Breast Cancer Patients

Abstract

One-step nucleic acid amplification (OSNA) detects and quantifies, with the use of a polymerase chain reaction, the presence of cytokeratin 19 mRNA in sentinel lymph nodes. The main advantage of the OSNA assay is the avoidance of second surgery in case of positive sentinel lymph node diagnosis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the significance of matrix metalloproteinase 9 expression by immunohistochemistry as supporting marker to cytokeratin 19 mRNA in sentinel lymph nodes in breast cancer patients and to relate this expression with clinicopathological data. This study was conducted on fresh sentinel lymph nodes obtained from 40 patients with tumors classified as carcinoma of no special type. The presence of metastatic cells in the slices of lymph nodes was evaluated by immunohistochemistry using antibodies for CK19 and MMP-9. Expression of CK19 and MMP-9 in lymph nodes was also confirmed by means of Western blot analysis. Results indicated that the strongest correlation with CK19 mRNA was displayed by MMP-9, CK19 (by immunohistochemistry, IHC), and nodal metastases (p < 0.001). Higher histological grading also positively correlated with CK19 mRNA, however that correlation was less significant. Since MMP-9 shows very strong correlation with CK19 mRNA in breast carcinoma of no special type metastases, expression of MMP-9 in sentinel lymph nodes should be considered as useful method whenever OSNA analysis is not available.

Downregulation of MMP-9 Enhances the Anti-Migratory Effect of Cyclophosphamide in MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7 Breast Cancer Cell Lines

“…Murawski et al assessed the importance of MMP-9 expression as a supporting marker for CK19 mRNA in sentinel lymph nodes in breast cancer patients and the link between this expression and clinical-pathological data. The results indicate a strong correlation of MMP-9 with CK19 mRNA in breast carcinoma [ 13 ]. In turn, Joseph et al indicate an increased level of CK17, which was associated with the increased expression of MMP-9.…”

“…The common point was indicated in the research on sentinel lymph nodes specimens obtained from breast cancer patients. The study presents the prognostic value of MMP-9 but also its correlation with CK19 [ 13 ].…”

The concentration of matrix metalloproteinase 9 in the tumor and peritumoral tissue as prognostic marker in breast cancer patients

“…Although the tumor cells are the ones breaking several tissue barriers with the aim of proliferation and spreading, there is some evidence suggesting that the tumor microenvironment cells, such as stromal cells, support the processes of tumor progression [17][18][19] . The findings suggested that MMPs overexpression might be associated with poor prognosis in breast cancer and its expression is increased with the increase of tumor stage [20][21][22][23] . Appropriate resection of cancer considers macroscopically and microscopically clean margins of specimen.…”