Circulating levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and their complex MMP-9/NGAL in breast cancer disease

• Published in: BMC cancer 2009-11, Vol.9 (1), p.390-390, Article 390
• Main Authors: Provatopoulou, Xeni, Gounaris, Antonia, Kalogera, Eleni, Zagouri, Flora, Flessas, Ioannis, Goussetis, Evgenios, Nonni, Afroditi, Papassotiriou, Ioannis, Zografos, George
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Acute-Phase Proteins - genetics; Acute-Phase Proteins - metabolism; Adult; Aged; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - blood; Breast Neoplasms - genetics; Breast Neoplasms - metabolism; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Carcinoma - blood; Carcinoma - genetics; Carcinoma - metabolism; Carcinoma - pathology; Cardiovascular disease; Case-Control Studies; Estrogens; Female; Gastric cancer; Hospitals; Humans; Hyperplasia; Lipocalin-2; Lipocalins - blood; Lipocalins - genetics; Lipocalins - metabolism; Mammography; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 - blood; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 - genetics; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 - metabolism; Medical prognosis; Metastasis; Middle Aged; Neutrophils; Protein Binding; Proto-Oncogene Proteins - blood; Proto-Oncogene Proteins - genetics; Proto-Oncogene Proteins - metabolism; R&D; Research & development; Statistical analysis; Urine; Womens health
• ISSN: 1471-2407; 1471-2407
• DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-9-390

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. 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. 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. 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.