The value of MMP-9 for breast and non-small cell lung cancer patients' survival.

PURPOSE

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are implicated in cancer cells invasion and metastasis processes and have been investigated as potential cancer biomarkers. In this study MMP-9 gene expression and MMP-9 -1562 C/T polymorphism in breast and non-small cell lung cancer patients' blood and tumor samples and its correlation with clinicopathological parameters were investigated.

MATERIAL/METHODS: MMP-9 gene expression was assessed by reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction method in 108 cancer patients' blood and tumor samples. MMP-9 -1562 C/T polymorphism was determined by the polymerase chain reaction - based restriction fragment length polymorphism method.

RESULTS

Significant relationship of MMP-9 gene expression and tumor differentiation grade was found only between groups with G1 and G3 breast tumors. Low survival rates were identified among positive MMP-9 expression in blood and ductal carcinoma of the breast (p=0.01) and negative progesterone receptor reaction (p=0.04). Significant differences in the distribution among genotypes were found between groups with stage I and stages III/IV (p=0.005) as well as between groups with lymph node status N0 and N1 (p<0.001). Breast cancer patients with tumor differentiation grade G3 and identified CC variant had a longer survival time (p=0.014). Shorter survival time was found among positive MMP-9 expression in tumor and stage I non-small cell lung cancer patients with negative lymph node (p=0.012) and squamous cell carcinoma (p=0.019).

CONCLUSIONS

Expression of MMP-9 in blood and tumor together indicates worse prognosis for breast cancer patients.