Significance of MMP-14 Expression in Breast Cancer

Objective 　To investigate the expression and clinical significance of MMP-14 protein in human breast cancers. Methods 　Forty-six human breast cancer tissues were collected. MT1-MMP protein was detected by immunohistochemist ry assay and their correlations with clinicopathological factors were analyzed. Results 　The expression of MMP-14 protein was negative in normal breast tissues and positive in 52. 2 % of forty-six breast cancers tissues. The positive rates were 12. 5 %, 54. 8 % and 85. 7 % in stageⅠ, stage Ⅱ and stage Ⅲ human breast cancers, respectively ( P < 0. 05), and 11. 1 %, 59. 4 % and 80. 0 % in the group of T1, T2 and T3 ( P < 0. 05), and 27. 3 %, 66. 7 % and 100. 0 % in the group of N0, N1 and N2 ( P < 0. 05) . MMP-14 protein showed positive relation with VEGF ( P < 0. 05), but no relations with and ER, PR or c-erbB-2 ( P > 0. 05) . Conclusion 　MMP-14 protein in human breast cancers had positive correlation with the stage, the tumor size, lymph node metastasis and VEGF. It can be a predictor for the ability of breast cancer invasion and metatasis.