Circulating levels of matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL) and their complex MMP-9/NGAL in breast cancer disease

Table 1 Serum levels of MMP-9, NGAL and MMP-9/NGAL complex.

	Healthy Controls (N = 30)	Sclerosing Adenosis (N = 35)	ADH (N = 18)	DCIS (N = 32)	IDC (N = 28)
NGAL (ng/ml)	70.7 ± 17.4	78.3 ± 28.8	79.1 ± 30.6	80.0 ± 22.5	87.4 ± 28.1*
MMP-9 (ng/ml)	264.2 ± 128.3	402.0 ± 284.8	326.0 ± 171.8	330.7 ± 165.7	392.6 ± 181.7**
MMP-9/NGAL (ng/ml)	39.9 ± 20.9	54.9 ± 41.0	53.9 ± 36.7	49.5 ± 34.1	60.7 ± 42.3***

Serum levels of NGAL, MMP-9 and MMP-9/NGAL complex in healthy controls and patients with Sclerosing adenosis, Atypical ductal hyperplasia (ADH), Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and Invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). Data are expressed as mean ± SD. Significantly increased expression is observed for patients with IDC compared to healthy controls (*NGAL: p < 0.008, **MMP-9: p < 0.003, ***MMP-9/NGAL: p < 0.01).

ISSN: 1471-2407