Is the expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, and TIMP-2 related to metastasis and recurrence of breast cancer

Objective To determine the presence and cellular location of matrix metalloproteinase MMP 2, MMP 9 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase TIMP 2 in breast cancer. Methods The expression of MMP 2, MMP 9 and TIMP 2 was detected using immunohistochemistry on tissue sections from 50 breast cancer and 20 breast fibroadenoma patients.Intact clinical parameters were available for all patients.Results Immunostaining of MMP 2, MMP 9 and TIMP 2 in breast cancer tissue was observed in 74% (37/50), 65% (31/50) and 56% (28/50) respectively. A very weak immunostaining of these three antibodies was observed in only a few epithelia in the surrounding background breast tissue and fibroadenoma tissue. The presence of MMP 2, MMP 9 and TIMP 2 was significantly greater in breast cancer tissues compared with all other breast tissues. The high level of MMP 2 was associated with poorer differentiation, more lymph node metastasis and increased recurrence of breast cancer ( P 0.05). The high level of TIMP 2 correlate inversely with the tumor grade, metastasis and recurrence ( P 0.05). There was no link between expression of MMP 9 and any clinical parameter. Conclusion The study suggests that high expression of MMP 2 in breast cancer tissue may be associated with an unfavorable prognosis while high expression of TIMP 2 may correlate with longer disease free survival. The ratio of MMP 2 and TIMP 2 provides more predictive information and may be a strong prognostic indicator of breast cancer. Induction of TIMP 2 expression can be considered as a alternate therapy regiment to protect the patients from tumor recurrence and metastasis.