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Analyzing the Communication Between Monocytes and Primary Breast Cancer Cells in an Extracellular Matrix Extract (ECME)-based Three-dimensional System
10:55

Analyzing the Communication Between Monocytes and Primary Breast Cancer Cells in an Extracellular Matrix Extract (ECME)-based Three-dimensional System

Published on: January 8, 2018

Significance of membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase expression in breast cancer

S Ishigaki1, M Toi, T Ueno

  • 1Department of Surgery, Tokyo Metropolitan Komagome Hospital.

Japanese Journal of Cancer Research : Gann
|July 3, 1999
PubMed

Insights

Membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) expression in breast tumors is common. While not a direct prognostic factor, MT1-MMP combined with thymidine phosphorylase-positive stromal cells indicates poorer outcomes.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Molecular Biology
  • Cancer Research

Background:

  • Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) facilitate tumor metastasis by degrading the extracellular matrix (ECM).
  • Membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) is crucial for activating MMP2 and is implicated in cancer progression.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the significance of MT1-MMP expression in human breast tumors.
  • To analyze the correlation between MT1-MMP expression and clinicobiological features.
  • To assess the prognostic value of MT1-MMP in breast cancer survival.

Main Methods:

  • Immunocytochemical assay was used to detect MT1-MMP expression in 183 primary breast tumors.
  • Correlation analysis was performed between MT1-MMP expression and clinicobiological parameters.
  • Postoperative survival analysis was conducted to evaluate prognostic significance.

Main Results:

  • MT1-MMP expression was observed in 56.2% of tumor cells and showed strong correlation between tumor and stromal cell expression.
  • No significant correlation was found between MT1-MMP expression and clinicobiological parameters like hormone receptor status or angiogenesis.
  • MT1-MMP alone was not a significant prognostic factor, but its expression was significant in patients with high thymidine phosphorylase (TP)-positive stromal cells.

Conclusions:

  • MT1-MMP expression is prevalent in breast tumors and can be found in both tumor and stromal cells.
  • MT1-MMP's prognostic value is context-dependent, becoming significant when co-expressed with TP-positive stromal cells.
  • MT1-MMP may cooperate with tumor-associated stromal cells to drive breast cancer progression.

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