Affiliations: Laboratory for Experimental Oncology (LEO), Department
of General Medical Oncology, University Hospital Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49,
3000 Leuven, Belgium | Multidisciplinary Breast Center, University Hospital
Gasthuisberg, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium | Pathology Department, University Hospital Sint
Rafaël, Minderbroedersstraat 12, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
Abstract: Objective: Aberrant expression of individual matrix
metalloproteinases has been associated with poor prognosis in various human
carcinomas. The current study aimed at defining an RNA expression profile of
various MMPs in breast cancer and correlating their expression with
clinicopathological parameters. Methods: The RNA expression patterns of 6
MMPs (MMP2, MMP8, MMP9, MMP10, MMP11, MMP13) were determined in 25 breast
carcinomas using quantitative RT-PCR and correlated with clinicopathological
parameters, including menopausal status, tumor size and grade, and lymph node
involvement. Results: We observed high MMP2 levels more frequently in
premenopausal than in postmenopausal women (p=0.02). Analysis of luminal A
type invasive ductal carcinomas (19/25), revealed an even stronger association
of MMP2 with menopausal status (p=0.005). Within this subgroup, we also
found a correlation between MMP11 and menopausal status (p=0.02). No
correlation was found between MMP expressions and other clinicopathological
parameters. In co-expression analyses MMP2-MMP10 and MMP8-MMP9 showed a weak
correlation of their expression. Conclusions: Although this is a pilot
study, our findings indicate that luminal A invasive ductal carcinomas commonly
express high MMP2 and MMP11 levels in premenopausal breast cancer patients and
suggest a co-regulation of MMP2-MMP10 and MMP8-MMP9.
Keywords: Breast cancer, matrix metalloproteinases, menopausal status, luminal A, clinicopathological parameters
