A cross-sectional study on the expression of fibrinolytic system components and metalloproteinase-9 in women with early-stage and metastases breast cancer in Tucumán, Argentina.

Background: In this study, standard coagulation, t-PA, PAI-1, DD, and MMP-9 tests were performed in a specific population of patient with early and metastatic breast cancer in Tucumán, Argentina. Only PAI-1 and MMP-9 levels increased in patients with early-stage breast cancer, suggesting that they may have evolved aggressively.

Background: ■ No clinically significant differences were observed in platelet counts or global coagulation test results.

Background: ■ t-PA values decreased in patients with metastases.

Background: ■ PAI-1, DD, and MMP-9 levels increased in patients with metastases.

Background: ■ High levels of PAI-1 and MMP-9 in the early stages could indicate an aggressive course in patients.

Objective: The hemostatic and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) systems are known to be altered in patients with breast cancer. This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the fibrinolysis components values and MMP-9 levels in a specific population of patients with early breast cancer and metastatic breast cancer in Tucumán, Argentina.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 63 patients without pathology or with benign breast pathology (GA Group), 48 patients with newly diagnosed primary breast cancer (GB Group), and 65 patients with metastatic breast cancer (GC Group). Levels of standard coagulation tests, tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), D-dimer (DD), and matrix metalloproteinases-9 (MMP-9) were measured in all groups.

Results: PAI-1 and MMP-9 levels were higher in patient with early breast cancer than those with benign disease. However, the GC Group showed significantly higher PAI-1, DD, and MMP-9 levels than the GA Group. Furthermore, the t-PA concentrations in the GC Group were lower than those in the Control Group.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that higher levels of PAI-1 and MMP-9 in patients with early-stage breast cancer may be associated with a subgroup of patients with more aggressive disease progression. In addition, significant alterations in t-PA, PAI-1, DD, and MMP-9 concentrations were observed in advanced stages of the disease. However, basic laboratory tests, such as global coagulation tests, do not effectively differentiate stages in breast cancer. Therefore, further study is needed to explore these findings in greater detail.