Expression of mRNA for gelatinase A and TIMP-2 in cell cultures and tissue samples derived from breast and lung carcinomas

The aim of this study was to determine how closely expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 is associated with poor patient prognosis in breast and lung cancer. mRNA levels of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 were examined on dot blots in 34 cases of human breast carcinoma and in 13 cases of lung carcinoma. In breast carcinomas we found that high MMP-2 and/or low TIMP-2 expression did not consistently correspond to a poor clinical situation, while high MMP-2/TIMP-2 ratios were also found in subjects whose clinical status was relatively favorable. Statistical analysis did not show any significant association between MMP-2/TIMP-2 and the tumor markers examined. Regarding lung carcinomas, we did not find a correlation between the ratio and poor prognosis, whereas in lung carcinoma cells in vitro we found an enhancement in MMP-2 production. A possible explanation for these results is that in vivo, as opposed to in vitro, it appears that the stromal cells of the tumor and not the tumor cell itself, produce MMP-2