Circulating levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and their compex MMP-9/NGAL in breast cancer disease
Recent evidence suggests that neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) expression is induced in many types of human cancer, while detection of its complex with matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) is correlated with cancer disease status. We aim to evaluate the serum expression of MMP-9, NGAL and their complex (MMP-9/NGAL) during the diagnostic work-up of women with breast abnormalities and investigate their correlation with disease severity.
Methods: The study included 113 women with non-palpable breast lesions undergoing vacuum-assisted breast biopsy for histological diagnosis, and 30 healthy women, which served as controls.
Expression levels of MMP-9, NGAL and their complex MMP-9/NGAL were determined in peripheral blood samples with immunoenzymatic assays.
Results: Women with invasive ductal carcinoma exhibited significantly increased levels of MMP-9, NGAL and MMP-9/NGAL compared to healthy controls (MMP-9: p<0.003, NGAL: p<0.008 MMP-9/NGAL: p<0.01). Significant correlations were observed between MMP-9 and NGAL serum levels and breast disease severity score (r=0.229, p<0.006 and r=0.206, p<0.01, respectively), whereas a non-significant correlation was found for their complex.
MMP-9, NGAL and their complex MMP-9/NGAL levels were not correlated with either Body Mass Index (BMI) or age of patients.
Conclusions: These findings suggest that the serum measurement of MMP-9 and NGAL may be useful in non-invasively monitoring breast cancer progression, while supporting their potential role as early biomarkers of breast disease status.
Author: Xeni ProvatopoulouAntonia GounarisEleni KalogeraFlora ZagouriIoannis FlessasEvgenios GoussetisAfroditi NonniIoannis PapassotiriouGeorge Zografos
Credits/Source: BMC Cancer 2009, 9:390
Published on: 2009-11-04
Copyright by the authors listed above - made available via BioMedCentral (Open Access). Please
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