Increasing in activity and plasma concentration of matrix metalloproteinase-9 in metastatic breast cancer patients

Background and Matrix metalloproteinase are a family of proteolytic enzymes that have specific functions in digestion of cells cohesive extra cellular matrix and also, increasing metastasis behavior of acute human tumors. It has been reported that MMPs in two forms, namely proenzyme and active enzyme in biological samples. It is distinguished that among this family, (MMP-9) Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 has function in both initiation and invasion steps of breast cancer. In our previous study, we reported a correlation between C/T polymorphism at promoter region of this gene and metastasis step of breast cancer.Considering few findings regarding the relationship between the active form of this enzyme and occurrence of cancer, and also the correlation between active form and allelic genotype of persons, in this study we decided to do a parallel study on measurement of active plasma MMP-9 and its relationship with allelic genotype of breast cancer patients. After analysis of data, we found that concentration of active MMP-9 has a significant difference in breast cancer patients in comparison with control group, as the concentration of active form of this enzyme was less in control group than the breast cancer patients group (0.7 ng and 1.7 ng respectively). Thus, the level of active MMP-9 showed a significant increase in persons with CT and TT genotypes in comparison with CC genotype (1.5 folds). The present data suggest the concentration of active MMP-9 in breast cancer patients has significantly increased in comparison with the control group and the increased in plasma level of this enzyme is related with the existence of T allele at this gene promoter and also in progression of breast cancer in these patients. We can use the active plasma level of this enzyme or the existence of T allele as a diagnostic tool for discriminating subgroups of breast cancer patients and also, for diagnosis of susceptible breast cancer women for metastasis to other tissues. The present data suggest that the concentration of active MMP-9 in breast cancer patients has a significant increasing comparison with the control group and the increasing in plasma level of this enzyme is related with the existence of T allele at this gene promoter and also progression of breast cancer in this persons, we can use the active plasma level of this enzyme or the existence of T allele as a diagnostic value for discriminating subgroups of breast cancer patients and diagnosis of susceptible breast cancer women for metastasis to the other tissues.