Affiliations: Laboratory for Receptors and Biology of Malignant Tumors, Division of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Belgrade, Serbia
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Zaki Abu Rabi, Laboratory for receptors and biology of malignant tumors, Division of Experimental Oncology, Institute of Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Pasterova 14, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia. Tel.: +381 112067213; E-mail:zaki.aburabi@gmail.com
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Cancer progression and metastasis are complex processes,
dependent of molecules involved in inflammation, degradation and invasion.
These molecules can be used as prognostic indicators to single out patients
with higher risk of recurrence. Interleukin-8 (IL-8) has a role in
inflammation, urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), plasminogen activator
inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) and matrix metalloproteinase-2, -9 have a decisive
part in the process of degradation and invasion, while vascular endothelial
growth factor (VEGF) is consequential for angiogenesis. OBJECTIVES: Aim of our study is to determine relations between IL-8, uPA,
PAI-1, MMP-2, -9, VEGF as their prognostic significance in terms of
recurrence free survival. METHODS: This study included 91 untreated patients with lymph node negative
(N0) primary breast cancer. RESULTS: Patients with higher levels of uPA (p= 0.05), PAI-1 (0.05), MMP2
(p= 0.05) and IL-8 (p= 0.02) have a poor prognosis. Positive correlations were
found between ER - PR, uPA - PAI-1, uPA - MMP9, PAI-1 - IL-8, MMP9 - IL-8,
MMP9 - VEGF. Negative correlations were found between ER - IL-8, uPA - IL-8, MMP2 - VEGF. CONCLUSIONS: Higher concentrations of IL-8, uPA, PAI-1 and MMP2, as is MMP9
and VEGF, confirmed aggressive phenotype and poor prognosis in different
subgroups.
