Matrix metalloproteinase expression in human breast cancer: an immunohistochemical study including correlation with cathepsin D, type IV collagen, laminin, fibronectin, EGFR, c-erbB-2 oncoprotein, p53, steroid receptors status and proliferative indices.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a group of enzymes thought to be responsible for both normal connective tissue matrix remodelling and accelerated breakdown associated with tumour development. The current study aimed to investigate the immunohistochemical expression of matrix metalloproteinase 3 (MMP-3, stromelysin-1) in correlation with the expression of Basement Membrane (BM) antigen (type IV collagen, laminin), fibronectin, cathepsin D, p53, c-erbB-2, proliferative activity (Ki-67, PCNA), steroid receptor content as well as to the other conventional clinicopathological parameters in breast cancer. This study was performed on a series of frozen and paraffin sections from 84 breast cancer specimens by immunohistochemistry using the monoclonal antibody MMP-3 (Ab-1). Stromelysin-1 (ST1) was observed in about 10% of epithelial cells in the control groups (cases of fibrocystic and benign proliferative breast disease), while expression (> 10% of expression) was detected in 89.7% of tumours. The expression of ST1 in carcinoma cells was strongly associated with its presence in the stroma (p < 0.001). A significantly positive correlation was found between ST1 expression, and p53 tumour suppressor gene product (p = 0.004), and a relationship with c-erbB-2 protein and progesterone receptor status was also indicated. These findings suggest that ST1 expression in breast cancer tissue is irrespective of the expression of the extracellular matrix component, the proteolytic enzyme cathepsin D and the growth fraction of the tumour, and that it could be a potential new prognostic marker in breast cancer.

p53/MDM-2 immunohistochemical expression correlated with proliferative activity in different subtypes of human sarcomas: a ten-year follow-up study.

The aim of this study was the evaluation of p53/MDM-2 protein overexpression in different subtypes of human sarcomas, and their correlation with proliferative activity and patient outcome. We selected 40 cases of human sarcomas comprising 6 malignant fibrous histiocytomas (MFH), 1 fibrosarcoma, 1 dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, 5 liposarcomas, 9 leiomyosarcomas, 1 rhabdomyosarcoma, 3 synovial sarcomas, 2 osteosarcomas, 1 chondrosarcoma, 4 Ewing's sarcomas, 2 Kaposi's sarcomas, 1 malignant haemangiopericytoma, 1 phylloides cystosarcoma, 1 neuroblastoma, 1 chordoma and 1 unclassified sarcoma. All the immunohistochemical markers, which had been used for the characterization of these sarcomas were re-examined. Additionally, the Streptavidin-Biotin peroxidase method was performed on paraffin sections using the monoclonal antibodies: anti-p53 antibody DO7, anti-MDM-2 antibody IF2 and anti-Ki-67 antibody MIB-1. According to our results, p53 protein nuclear expression was detected in 20% (8/40) of the tumours (1 fibrosarcoma, 2 liposarcomas, 1 leiomyosarcoma, 1 rhabdomyosarcoma, 2 Ewing's sarcomas and 1 unclassified sarcoma). MDM-2 nuclear staining was determined in 7.5% (3/40) of the cases (1 MFH and 2 liposarcomas). A high proliferative index was demonstrated in 27.5% (11/40) of the tumours (2 MFH, 4 leiomyosarcomas, 1 rhabdomyosarcoma, 1 osteosarcoma, 2 Ewing's sarcomas and 1 unclassified sarcoma). p53 overexpression was associated with high tumour grade (p < 0.05) and MIB-1 expression was correlated with reduced survival (p < 0.05), but p53 overexpression was not significantly associated with either MIB-1 score or with overall survival of the patients. In conclusion, from this limited and heterogeneous sample of cases, we suggest that the p53/MDM-2 pathway is involved in the tumourigenesis of several sarcoma subtypes, but it is unclear if the overexpression of these genes may become prognostic marker for patients affected with these highly aggressive tumours.