Higher plasma MMP-9 level in breast cancer patients with MMP-9 promoter T allele

Abstract

Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in blood is a promising new tumor marker. Previously, a correlation between C/T-1562 MMP-9 polymorphism and tumor progression of breast cancer was reported. In the present study, we examined the association between the C/T polymorphism and plasma MMP-9 level in breast cancer patients. This study included 124 breast cancer patients, 52 of which with initial breast cancer and 72 with progressive breast cancer. Different allelic genotypes of MMP-9 promoter polymorphism were determined by PCR-RFLP and the plasma MMP-9 concentrations were measured using ELISA. Plasma MMP-9 levels were significantly increased in breast cancer patients with the MMP-9 promoter T allele compared with patients with the MMP-9 promoter C allele (p < 0.001). The plasma MMP-9 levels were correlated with progression of breast cancer and lymph node involvement (p = 0.002). According to our findings, individuals with MMP-9 promoter T allele are at a risk of higher plasma MMP-9 and they are more susceptible to breast cancer.