Objective: To study the expression of KiSS-1, nuclear factor kappa B (NF-kappaB) p50 and matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) in breast cancer tissue and the relationship with clinicpathological factors.
Methods: Immunohistochemical staining for KiSS-1, NF-KappaBp50, and MMP-9 protein was performed in 152 cases of human breast tissue [92 cases of BC, 30 cases of epithelial hyperplasia, and 30 cases of peritumoral breast tissue (PMT)] and 54 cases of axillary lymph node metastases. In-situ hybridization for KiSS-1 mRNA was done in 50 cases of breast cancer, and 20 cases of PMT.
Results: (1) The expression of KiSS-1 gene was significantly higher in well-differentiated breast cancer than in PMT, and this expression progressively decreased with decreasing degree of tumor differentiation, increasing pathological grade, TNM stage and the presence of lymph node metastases. The expression of KiSS-1 gene in lymph node metastasis was markedly lower than the corresponding primary tumor. There was correlation between the expression of KiSS-1 mRNA and KiSS-1 protein in breast cancer group. (2) The expression of NF-kappaKBp50 and MMP-9 increased progressively with decreasing degree of tumor differentiation, increasing TNM stage, large tumor size ( >2 cm) and the presence of lymph node metastases.
Conclusions: The expression of KiSS-1 protein showed negative correlation with that of NF-kappaBp50 and MMP-9 respectively. MMP-9 protein expression was positively correlated with NF-kappap50 protein expression. These suggest that the genes of KiSS-1, NF-kappaBp50 and MMP-9 could be involved in the progression and metastasis of breast cancer.