Role of Matrix Metalloproteinases and Their Tissue Inhibitors in Human Breast Adenocarcinoma
Abstract
The deadly consequences of breast cancer are due to metastasis, a process in which tumor cells penetrate the blood vessels and enter other tissues to spread the cancer. This movement through vessels and tissues is attributed to a group of digestive enzymes (the matrix metalloproteinases or MMPs) that can destroy the matrix in advance of tumor cell movement. These MMPs are normally produced in small amount and are held in check by inhibitors in the tissues (tissue inhibitors of MMPs or TIMPs). We took 125 samples of breast tissues (benign tumors and various carcinomas) and measured the production of six different MMPs and 2 TIMPs in a unified multipronged approach. We used antibody methods to see which cells are producing these enzymes and inhibitors. The most prominent enzyme was MMP-9, also known as gelatinase B, which is able to break down the wall that forms around tumor cell clusters. While this, and other MMPs were elevated in cancer, the TIMP inhibitors were produced at levels well below normal. This results in an imbalance in which the destructive proteases greatly outweigh the controlling inhibitors, facilitating the spread of the cancer.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 1998
- Accession Number
- ADA366684
Entities
People
- Zeenat Gunja-smith
Organizations
- University of Miami