[Correlation between expression of metastasis-associated gene 1 and matrix metalloproteinase 9 and invasion and metastasis of breast cancer].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the expression of metastasis-associated gene 1 (MTA1) and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) gene in breast carcinoma and the relationship between the expression of these genes and the invasion of breast cancer. METHODS: Fluorescence quantitative PCR technique was used to detect the mRNA expression of MTA1 and MMP-9 gene among 56 human breast cancer samples. RESULTS: The mRNA expression rate of MTA1 was higher in 83.9% (47/56) of the primary breast cancer tissues compared with the matched normal breast tissues. The mRNA expression of MMP-9 was higher in 85.7% (48/56) of the primary breast cancer tissues compared to the matched normal breast tissues. The over-expression of MTA1 and that of the MMP-9 gene were significantly related with the degree of differentiation, clinical stage, and lymph node metastasis of breast cancer (all P < 0.05). The positive ratio of MTA1 gene is tightly associated with that of MMP-9 gene (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The united detection of MTA1 and MMP-9 gene expression predicts the invasion and metastasis of breast cancer and supplies evidence for clinical therapy and judgment of prognosis. MTA1 and MMP-9 will become new targets for gene therapy.