The aim of this study was to investigate plasma levels and applicability of CCL2, CCR2, and tumor marker CA 15-3 in breast cancer (BC) patients and in relation to the control groups: patients with benign breast tumor and healthy subjects. Plasma levels of tested parameters were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and CA 15-3 by Chemiluminescent Microparticle Immunoassay (CMIA). The median levels of CCL2 in entire group of BC were significantly higher compared to the control groups, similarly as median levels of CA 15-3. CCR2 is a negative marker whose levels were significantly lower in BC group compared to healthy women. The concentration of CCL2 in BC increases with advancing tumor stage, while a median level of CCR2 decreases with advancing stage. CCL2 showed the highest value of sensitivity (SE) (64.95%) in entire BC group and also in early stages of disease. The highest specificity (SP) was obtained by CA 15-3 (85.71%). The area under the ROC curve (AUC) of CCR2 (0.7304) was the largest of all the tested parameters (slightly lower than CA 15-3) in the entire BC group, but a maximum range was obtained for the combination of all tested parameters with CA 15-3 (0.8271). In early stages of BC the highest AUC of all tested parameters was observed in CCL2 or CCR2 (stage I: 0.6604 and 0.6564; respectively; stage II: 0.7768, respectively, for CCR2). The findings of this study suggest that there may be applicability of CCL2, CCR2 in diagnosis of BC patients, particularly in conjunction with CA 15-3.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are endopeptidases which are widely studied in terms of their role in the physiological and pathological processes in the organism. In this article, we consider usefulness of matrilysins and stromelysins in pathogenesis and diagnostic of the most common malignancies in the world, e.g., lung, breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers. In all of the mentioned cancers, matrilysins and stromelysins have a pivotal role in their development and also may have diagnostic utility. Influence to the cancerous process is connected with specific dependencies between these enzymes and components of the extracellular matrix (ECM), non-matrix components like cell surface components. All the information provided below allows to take a closer look at matrilysins and stromelysins and their functions in the cancer development.

Metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a group of proteolytic enzymes involved in the maintenance of a proper structure of extracellular matrix (ECM). Matrilysins (MMP-7 and MMP-26) are members of the MMPs group that show promise as potential breast cancer (BC) markers. The aim of the study was to evaluate plasma levels of MMP-7, MMP-26 and CA 15-3 individually and in combination and assess the diagnostic utility of studied matrilysins in patients with BC. The study group consisted of 120 patients with BC, and the control group consisted of 40 subjects with benign breast cancer and 40 healthy women. Concentrations of MMP-7 and MMP-26 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and CA 15-3 by chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay. Plasma levels of MMP-7 were significantly higher in the BC group than in the control group. Concentrations of MMP-26 and CA 15-3 were highest in stages II and IV of the disease. The highest diagnostic sensitivity was observed in stages III and IV BC for the combination of all tested markers (92.5%). The highest diagnostic specificity was noted for all tested parameters combined in the BC group (95.0%). The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) for the combination of markers (MMP-7+MMP-26+CA 15-3) was the largest (0.9138) in stages III and IV. Individual marker analysis showed that MMP-7 had the highest AUC (0.8894) in advanced stages of the disease. Study results indicate that MMP-7 could be used as an additional marker that would improve the diagnostic utility of CA 15-3 in early stages of BC. Therefore, the combined assessment of MMP-7 and MMP-26 with CA 15-3 might be useful in determining disease progression. Further studies are needed to evaluate whether matrilysins show promise as potential markers for improving the diagnosis of BC.

Background: Metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a group of proteolytic enzymes involved in the maintenance of a proper structure of extracellular matrix (ECM). Matrilysins (MMP-7 and MMP-26) are the one of the group of MMPs that could represent potential breast cancer (BC) markers. The aim of the study was to evaluate plasma levels of MMP-7, MMP-26 and CA 15-3 individually and in combination and assess the a diagnostic utility of studied matrilysins in BC patients. Methods: The study group consisted of 120 patients with BC, the control group consisted of 40 patients with benign breast cancer and 40 healthy women. Concentrations of MMP-7 and MMP-26 were determined by Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay, CA 15-3 by Chemiluminescent Microparticle Immunoassay.Results: The plasma levels of MMP-7 were significantly higher in the entire BC group than in the control group. Concentrations of MMP-26 and CA 15-3 were the highest in the III and IV stage of disease. The highest diagnostic sensitivity was observed in the III and IV stage of cancer for set of all tested markers (92.5%). The highest diagnostic specificity was noted for all tested parameters in all studied BC group (95.0%). The area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve (AUC) set of markers (MMP-7+MMP-26+CA 15-3) was the largest (0.9138) in III and IV stage. Also individual marker analysis showed that MMP-7 had the highest AUC (0.8894) in advanced stages of disease. Conclusions: Data suggested that MMP-7 can be considered as additional marker improving diagnostic utility of CA 15-3 in early stages of BC patients. Therefore, combined analysis of MMP-7 and MMP-26 with CA 15-3 might be useful in detection of disease progression. Future investigation is needed to evaluate whether matrilysins might be a potential markers improving diagnosis of BC.

Introduction. Fascins are a group of proteins taking part in the maintenance of a proper structure of the cellular cytoskeleton. Fascin-1 is an actin-bundling protein present in neurons, fibroblasts, endothelial, smooth muscle, dendritic and mesenchymal cells whereas lack of its expression is characteristic of epithelial cells. Fascin-1 overexpression can be observed in neoplastic cells. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the expression of Fascin-1 protein in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and to analyze associations between Fascin-1 expression and clinical-pathological parameters. Material and methods. The study material included postoperative samples (tumor and unchanged colon tissue) obtained from 51 CRC patients. Fascin-1 expression was assessed in the paraffin sections by immunohistochemistry. Results. A statistically significant correlation was found between the histological type of cancer and the expression of Fascin-1 (p = 0.012). Increased expression of Fascin-1 in CRC was more frequent in adenocarcinoma type without the mucosal component with a better prognosis and decreased expression of this protein correlated with infiltration of cancer cells to blood and lymphatic vessels (p = 0.038). Conclusions. Our findings indicate a potential role of Fascin-1 in the pathogenesis of colon cancer; however, further studies will show whether this protein plays a role in the infiltration of colorectal cancer cells. Introduction. Fascins are a group of proteins taking part in the maintenance of a proper structure of the cellular cytoskeleton. Fascin-1 is an actin-bundling protein present in neurons, fibroblasts, endothelial, smooth muscle, dendritic and mesenchymal cells whereas lack of its expression is characteristic of epithelial cells. Fascin-1 overexpression can be observed in neoplastic cells. Therefore, the aim of this study was to assess the expression of Fascin-1 protein in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) and to analyze associations between Fascin-1 expression and clinical-pathological parameters. Material and methods. The study material included postoperative samples (tumor and unchanged colon tissue) obtained from 51 CRC patients. Fascin-1 expression was assessed in the paraffin sections by immunohistochemistry. Results. A statistically significant correlation was found between the histological type of cancer and the expression of Fascin-1 (p = 0.012). Increased expression of Fascin-1 in CRC was more frequent in adenocarcinoma type without the mucosal component with a better prognosis and decreased expression of this protein correlated with infiltration of cancer cells to blood and lymphatic vessels (p = 0.038). Conclusions. Our findings indicate a potential role of Fascin-1 in the pathogenesis of colon cancer; however, further studies will show whether this protein plays a role in the infiltration of colorectal cancer cells.

Background: Stromelysins are potential breast cancer biomarkers. The aim of the study was to evaluate if plasma levels of selected metalloproteinases (MMPs) (stromelysin-1 (MMP-3) and stromelysin-10 (MMP-10)) and cancer antigen 15-3 (CA 15-3) used separately and in combination demonstrated diagnostic usefulness in breast cancer (BC). Methods: The study group consisted of 120 patients with BC, while the control group included 40 patients with benign breast cancer and 40 healthy individuals. Concentrations of MMP-3 and MMP-10 were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; CA 15-3 was determined by chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay. Results: In the group of patients with BC, the area under the curve (AUC) was significantly higher for all markers (except MMP-3) and all sets of markers. At the earliest disease stage, only MMP-10 had a significantly higher AUC (AUC = 0.8692, p < 0.001). Moreover, MMP-10 had the highest AUC (0.9166) among parameters tested separately. The highest AUC was observed for the combination of MMP-10 + CA 15-3 and MMP-3 + MMP-10 + CA 15-3 in line with disease progression (stage I 0.8884 and 0.8906, stage II 0.9244 and 0.9308, stages III + IV 0.9919 and 0.9944, respectively, p < 0.001 in all cases). Conclusions: The results suggest that MMP-10 could be a potential marker in early stages of BC. Moreover, plasma concentration of MMP-10 and MMP-3 in combination with CA 15-3 may improve diagnosis of this type of cancer.