Expression of phosphorylated p38 and MMP-7 in breast carcinoma

Purpose To investigate the expression and correlation of phosphorylated p38( P-p38) and matrix metalloproteinases-7( MMP-7) in pericancerous tissues and breast carcinoma tissues. Methods The expressions of P-p38 and MMP-7 protein in 80 cases of breast carcinoma and 20 cases of normal breast tissue were examined using immunohistochemistry method,and the relationship between the expressions of P-p38 and MMP-7 and their clinical pathological features was analysed. The expressions of P-p38 and MMP-7 protein were determined using Western blot method in 20 cases of breast cancer tissues with lymph node metastasis,20 cases of breast cancer tissues without lymph node metastasis,and 20 cases of adjacent breast tissues. Results The immunohistochemical results showed the expressions of P-p38 and MMP-7 in breast carcinoma tissues were significantly higher than that in adjacent breast tissues( P 0. 05). The expression of P-p38 was correlated with lymph node metastasis and clinical stage( P 0. 05). The expression of MMP-7 was correlated with lymph node metastasis and histological grade( P 0. 05). Western blot results showed that the expressions of Pp38 and MMP-7 were higher in lymph node positive group than that in lymph node negative group and control group. The Spearman's correlation test revealed that the P-p38 was significantly positively associated with MMP-7 in breast carcinoma specimens( rs= 0. 324,P = 0. 004). Conclusion Overexpressions of P-p38 and MMP-7 were positively correlated in breast carcinoma tissues. The results suggested that P-p38 and MM-7 may cooperatively promote the growth and development of breast carcinoma.