Sequential production and activation of matrix-metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) with breast cancer progression

• Published in: Breast cancer research and treatment 1997-04, Vol.43 (2), p.175-181
• Main Authors: Rha, S Y, Kim, J H, Roh, J K, Lee, K S, Min, J S, Kim, B S, Chung, H C
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - enzymology; Breast Neoplasms - pathology; Cancer research; Collagenases - biosynthesis; Collagenases - metabolism; Disease Progression; Enzyme Activation; Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics; Humans; Mammary gland diseases; Matrix Metalloproteinase 9; Medical research; Medical sciences; Tumors
• ISSN: 0167-6806; 1573-7217
• DOI: 10.1023/A:1005701231871

The degradation of the basement membrane by matrix-metalloproteinase (MMP) and serine protease is a critical point in tumor invasion and metastasis. We measured the activity of MMP-9 from 28 normal, 12 benign and 126 breast cancer tissues using gelatin zymography with an image analysis system. ProMMP-9 was expressed in 17.5% of the cancer patients compared to 2.5% in 40 non-cancerous tissues (p = 0.014). The mature form of MMP-9 (82 kD) was expressed only in T2-T4 stages. During the early phase of breast cancer (DCIS and T1 stage) progression, only production of proMMP-9 increased. However, as the cancer grew or invaded skin (T2-T4), or with lymphovascular permeation, both production and activation of MMP-9 increased. In conclusion, proMMP-9 production was the main cause of increased MMP-9 activity during the early phase, while both production and activation increased in the late phase of breast cancer.