Tumor-Derived Matrix Metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) Expression in Benign and Malignant Breast Lesions.

Fereshteh Ameli,Farzan Kahtib,Noraidah Masir,Firouzeh Ghafourina Nassab

doi:10.31557/apjcp.2021.22.8.2603

Abstract

Introduction:Breast carcinoma is the most common malignancy and the leading cause of cancer death in women. Matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) is a hypothetical prognostic marker in invasive breast cancer. This study aimed to determine MMP-13 expression in benign and malignant breast lesions and to evaluate the correlation between MMP-13 expression and tumor characteristics in invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). Materials and Method:We evaluated cytoplasmic expression of MMP-13 based on staining index using immunohistochemistry (IHC) in epithelial cells, stromal fibroblasts of IDC (n=90) and benign epithelial breast (n=90) lesions. Correlation between IHC and tumor size, lymph node status, distance metastasis, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and Her-2/neu was assessed. Results:MMP-13 expression was 45% and 38.8% in malignant epithelial cells and peritumoral fibroblasts, respectively. Only low level of MMP-13 expression was seen in benign breast lesions (8.8% in epithelial component and 2.2% in stromal fibroblasts), while high level of MMP-13 expression was noted in malignant tumors, mainly grade II or III. Cytoplasmic MMP-13 expressions in epithelial tumor cells was correlated significantly with peritumoral fibroblasts. MMP-13 expression was directly correlated with distant metastasis and tumor stage in epithelial tumoral cells and was inversely correlated with progesterone expression in both tumoral and stromal cells. Conclusion:This study showed that MMP-13 was a moderator for tumor invasion and metastasis and could be an independent predictor of poor prognosis in breast cancer. The role of MMP-13 in predicting the risk of malignant transformation in benign lesions should be further investigated.

Highlights

Breast carcinoma is the most common malignancy and the leading cause of cancer death in women
Materials and Method: We evaluated cytoplasmic expression of Matrix metalloproteinase-13 (MMP-13) based on staining index using immunohistochemistry (IHC) in epithelial cells, stromal fibroblasts of invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) (n=90) and benign epithelial breast (n=90) lesions
It is evident that the proportion of Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and other macromolecules in the extracellular matrix (ECM) of tissues are metabolically, microenvironmentally, and epigenetically balanced for their functions in normal conditions (Quintero-Fabián et al, 2019)

Summary

Introduction

Breast carcinoma is the most common malignancy and the leading cause of cancer death in women. This study aimed to determine MMP-13 expression in benign and malignant breast lesions and to evaluate the correlation between MMP-13 expression and tumor characteristics in invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). Materials and Method: We evaluated cytoplasmic expression of MMP-13 based on staining index using immunohistochemistry (IHC) in epithelial cells, stromal fibroblasts of IDC (n=90) and benign epithelial breast (n=90) lesions. Low level of MMP-13 expression was seen in benign breast lesions (8.8% in epithelial component and 2.2% in stromal fibroblasts), while high level of MMP-13 expression was noted in malignant tumors, mainly grade II or III. Cytoplasmic MMP-13 expressions in epithelial tumor cells was correlated significantly with peritumoral fibroblasts. At least two groups of extracellular proteins have been reported to play important roles in cancer metastasis and invasion. The second group includes some cell surface receptors, ligands, and chemokines and cytokines, which play an important role in cancer cell migration, proliferation or apoptosis through different cell signaling pathways (Wang et al, 2019)

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