Prognostic Value of the Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 and Its Relation to Clinicopathological Features in Women with Invasive Breast Cancer

Abstract

Background: Invasive breast cancer is the most common type of malignancy in women worldwide. Matrix Metalloproteinase - 9 is a member of degrading enzymes required for tumor metastasis. Aim: To assess the prognostic significance of the Matrix Metalloproteinase - 9 expression in invasive breast cancer and its association with the clinicopathological features. Patients and Methods: Cross-sectional study was conducted at the Oncology and Nuclear Therapy Unit, Suez Canal University Hospital. The study involved 33 females that were registered between January 1 st , 2008 and December, 31 st , 2012. The eligible participants had a confirmed non-metastatic invasive ductal carcinoma, underwent surgery that their paraffin blocks containing tumor were available. The participants’ tissue specimens were immune stained for Matrix Metalloproteinase - 9 expression level in the hospital pathology lab. Survival analysis and correlation models were conducted to explore the association between Matrix Metalloproteinase - 9 expression level with clinicopathological parameters and survival. Results : The mean age of participants was 51.2 ± 9.9 years. The mortality rate was 18.2%. The mean Matrix Metalloproteinase - 9 expression was 5.42 (±3.37); 57.6% showed high expression level. There was no significant correlation with clinicopathological features. Nottingham Prognostic Index was a significant predictor of mortality. Overall survival and disease-free survival were insignificantly different among cases with low and high MMP-9 expression. Conclusion: Tissue Matrix Metalloproteinase - 9 expression level does not play a significant role in disease progression. However, Nottingham Prognosis Index is a significant predictor of mortality among studied breast cancer cases.