Abstract

SORIA DE GONZALEZ, Analía et al. Metalloproteinase-9 activity in women with mammary gland pathologies. Acta bioquím. clín. latinoam. [online]. 2005, vol.39, n.2, pp.157-161. ISSN 0325-2957.

The metalloproteinases (MMP-s) are a family of endopeptidases implicated in the degradation of extra cellular matrix. They are also associated with malignant transformation processes such as tumor invasion and metastasis in breast cancer (BC). Likewise, the microcalcifications of the mammary tissues are one of the most important diagnostic markers of BC in the early stages. This work evaluates the MMP-9 sera levels in patients with BC clinically diagnosed, and mamographically detected microcalcifications (MDM). A population of 43 women was studied and they were separated into three groups: A) 21 BC patiens showing a positive response to the treatment, B) 11 patients with advanced BC without treatment or with a negative response to it and C) 11 patients with MDM and without malignant lesions clinically diagnosed. The evaluation of the results obtained for groups A, B and C showed the existence of the average values of MMP-9 sera of 328,0 + 123,3; 929,1 + 103,97; 870,47 + 120,98 respectively. The MMP-9 sera levels, present in MDM carrier patients, similar to those observed in BC without a positive response could suggest the importance of early detection of this lesion and thus, the diagnostic, prognostic and follow-up importance of the MMP-9 markers in patients with breast cancer.

Keywords : breast cancer; metalloproteinase-9; microcalcifications; prognostic factors.

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