Expression of the matrix metalloproteinase regulator- RECK-and its clinical significance in breast cancer

Abstract

Breast cancer is the most common cancer worldwide in females, and the 2nd most common cancer overall (Ferlay et al., 2013). The reversion inducing cysteine rich protein with kazal motifs (RECK), inhibits secretion and enzymatic activity of MMP-2, and MMP-9, membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MMP-14). Down-regulation of RECK has been implicated in many tumors. Thus expression of RECK gene is considered to be an adequate prognostic biomarker for patients diagnosed with various tumors (Noda and Takahashi, 2007).

This study was carried out at Medical Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, in collaboration with General and Plastic Surgery Departments, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University. The study was approved by Research Ethics Committee (REC), Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University.

The study included 60 female patients classified into two groups: • Group A: Consisted of twenty three female patients with histopathologically confirmed malignant breast tumors. Patients with previous history of radiotherapy, systemic chemotherapy, or with malignancy other than breast cancer were excluded from this study. Breast cancer patients underwent either radical mastectomy or modified radical mastectomy. Breast tissue specimen from suspected lesions were examined histopathologically and clinical staging according to TNM classification was performed (AJCC, 2010). • Group B: Consisted of thirty seven Egyptian females who underwent breast reduction as a control group. They were recruited from Plastic Surgery Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the clinical significance of RECK gene expression in patients with breast cancer in relation to clinicopathological factors. To achieve this goal we measured RECK expression both at transcription and translation levels using RT-qPCR and ELISA respectively in tissues and sera - for first time- of breast cancer patients and control group.