Background: Cancer progression and metastasis are complex processes, dependent of molecules involved in inflammation, degradation and invasion. These molecules can be used as prognostic indicators to single out patients with higher risk of recurrence. Interleukin-8 (IL-8) has a role in inflammation, urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) and matrix metalloproteinase-2, -9 have a decisive part in the process of degradation and invasion, while vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is consequential for angiogenesis.
Objectives: Aim of our study is to determine relations between IL-8, uPA, PAI-1, MMP-2, -9, VEGF as their prognostic significance in terms of recurrence free survival.
Methods: This study included 91 untreated patients with lymph node negative (N0) primary breast cancer.
Results: Patients with higher levels of uPA (p= 0.05), PAI-1 (0.05), MMP2 (p= 0.05) and IL-8 (p= 0.02) have a poor prognosis. Positive correlations were found between ER - PR, uPA - PAI-1, uPA - MMP9, PAI-1 - IL-8, MMP9 - IL-8, MMP9 - VEGF. Negative correlations were found between ER - IL-8, uPA - IL-8, MMP2 - VEGF.
Conclusions: Higher concentrations of IL-8, uPA, PAI-1 and MMP2, as is MMP9 and VEGF, confirmed aggressive phenotype and poor prognosis in different subgroups.
Keywords: Breast cancer; interleukin 8; lymph node; matrix metalloproteinase; plasminogen activator; prognostic markers; progression.