Serum levels of matrix metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9 and their tissue natural inhibitors in breast tumors.

In this study, the levels of matrix metalloproteinases MMP-2 and MMP-9 were simultaneously analyzed with the levels of their tissue natural inhibitors TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 in sera of patients with breast tumors. At the same time, the activity of these two matrix metalloproteinases was evaluated. The decrease of TIMP-2 level in sera from patients with breast cancer as well as an imbalance between MMP-2 and TIMP-2 in neoplasic processes were found. The serum levels of MMP-2, MMP-9 and TIMP-1 were comparable between the patients with breast cancer and benign tumors. These experimental studied parameters were found to correlate with some of clinicopathological disease variables (TNM or pTNM staging system, tumor size and node invasion) suggesting their potential value for diagnosis and prognosis of breast cancer. Matrix metalloproteinases or their natural inhibitors and tumor markers (CA15.3 and CEA) not correlated between but, each of them correlated with another clinicopathological disease variable, suggesting their usefulness in the evaluation.