Relationship between the expression of uPA and MMP-9 in invasive ductal carcinoma of breast

Objective To study the expression and correlation of urokinase-type plasminogen activator(uPA) and matrix metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9)in invasive ductal carcinoma of breast.Methods Expression of uPA and MMP-9 was detected in 50 cases of breast carcinoma tissue and 20 patients with normal breast tissues adjacent to tumor was examined by immunohistochemical staining.Results The positive expression rates of uPA and MMP-9 in breast carcinoma were 60%,66% respeetively,showing a significant difference between breast carcinoma and normal breast tissues adjacent to tumor(P0.01).The expression of uPA was positively correlated with expression of MMP-9 in breast carcinoma(r=0.630,P0.01).The expression of uPA and MMP-9 was significantly correlated with lymphatic metastasis and surgical-pathologic staging(P0.05),but not significantly correlated with age and tumor size (P0.05).Conclusion The overexpression of uPA and MMP-9 is found in breast carcinoma.To induce uPA overexpression may be one of pathways of MMP-9 that enhances invasion and contributes to the infiltration and metastasis in human breast carcinoma.