Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) in T(1-2)N0 breast carcinoma

Node-negative breast carcinoma is associated with favorable prognosis in breast carcinoma. Despite therapy some early stage breast carcinoma patients still die of metastatic disease. Prognostic factors are needed to define patients for new treatment modalities. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) has been shown to be associated with tumor invasiveness and MMP-2 negativity has been linked with favorable prognosis in node-positive breast carcinoma. Here, the prognostic value of MMP-2 in node-negative, T(1-2) breast carcinoma patients was evaluated in 137 cases. Expression of MMP-2 was studied in paraffin-embedded tissue sections from primary tumors using a specific monoclonal antibody for MMP-2 in an avidin-biotin-peroxidase immunohistochemical staining. Postoperative survival rates were analyzed by the Kaplan-Meier method and the differences between the survival were compared by means of log-rank test. All MMP-2 negative patients were alive during the 10 years' follow-up, compared to the 87% survival in the MMP-2 positive group. MMP-2 negativity seemed to improve the prognosis in the estrogen receptor negative group. The differences did not achieve statistical significance due to few events in the node-negative group. In conclusion, we suggest that MMP-2 negativity may be linked with a favorable prognosis in node-negative breast carcinoma.