ABSTRACT
This study included 36 females [aged 48.9 +/- 9.5 years] with breast cancer; 28 had localized disease with or without locoregional lymphatic spread [localized subgroup] and 8 with distant visceral and/or bone metastasis [distant metastasis subgroup]. They were staged according to the American Joint Committee on Cancer and graded according to the histological examination of the studied biopsies. The results were compared with those of 15 age-matched females suffering from benign mastopathies and 19 healthy age-matched females. Serum aspartate aminotransferase [AST], alanine aminotransferase [ALT], alkaline phosphatase [ALP], total calcium and phosphorus were assayed on Synchron Cx-7 autoanalyzer. Moreover, CA15-3, VEGF and MMP-9 were measured using an enzyme linked immunosorbent assay. In conclusion, the results suggest the implication of MMP-9 and VEGF in enhancement of tumor invasion and progression, with the superior prognostic significance of MMP-9. Hence, their addition to the routine battery of investigations, could improve the laboratory work up of breast cancer patients and have its implication on the design of new treatment modalities employing anti-MMP-9 therapeutic agents and anti-VEGF which block the receptor signaling pathway