Breast cancer is the most common malignancy in women globally. The increasing worldwide incidence of this type of cancer illustrates the challenge it represents for healthcare providers. Therefore, new tumor markers are constantly being sought. The aim of this study was to assess plasma concentrations and the diagnostic power of VEGF in 100 patients with early-stage breast cancer, both before and after surgical treatment and during a three-year follow-up. The control groups included 50 subjects with benign breast tumors (fibroadenoma) and 50 healthy women. The VEGF concentration was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the CA 15-3 concentration was determined by chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay (CMIA). We observed significantly higher preoperative plasma concentrations of VEGF and CA 15-3 in patients with breast cancer. VEGF, similar to CA 15-3, demonstrated high diagnostic utility in the assessment of the long-term efficacy of surgical removal of the tumor. Determinations of VEGF had the highest diagnostic usefulness in the detection of breast cancer recurrence (SE 40%, SP 92%, PPV 67%, NPV 79%). Additionally, the highest values of SE, NPV and AUC were observed during the combined analysis with CA 15-3 (60%; 84%; 0.7074, respectively). Our study suggests a promising diagnostic utility of VEGF in the early stages of breast cancer and in the evaluation of the efficacy of the surgical treatment of breast cancer as well as the detection of breast cancer recurrence, particularly in a combined analysis with CA 15-3 as a new diagnostic panel.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a group of enzymes that mediate both physiological and pathological processes such as carcinogenesis. The role of matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) and (MMP-7) in the pathogenesis of breast cancer (BC) has been demonstrated, suggesting that they may be considered as potential markers of this condition. The aim of this study was to assess plasma concentrations and diagnostic utility of MMP-3 and MMP-7 in 100 patients with early-stage breast cancer with Luminal A subtype or Luminal B HER-negative subtype, before and after surgical treatment, and in the following control groups: patients with a benign tumor (fibroadenoma) and healthy subjects. The concentrations of MMP-3 and MMP-7 were referenced to the levels of the widely recognized marker for BC diagnosis CA 15-3. MMP-3 and MMP-7 was measured by ELISA method and CA 15-3 by CMIA. Plasma levels of MMP-7 were significantly higher in Luminal A and Luminal B HER2-negative subtype breast cancer patients as compared to the healthy group. MMP-7 demonstrated comparable but mostly higher to CA 15-3 or MMP-3 values of diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative predictive values and AUC (0.6888 for Luminal A subtype; 0.7612 for Luminal B HER2-negative; 0.7250 for BC total group, respectively) in the groups tested. The combined use of the tested parameters resulted in a further increase in diagnostic criteria and AUC. These results suggest the usefulness of combining MMP-7 with CA 15-3 in the diagnostics of breast cancer, especially in Luminal B HER2-negative subtypes patients, as a new candidate for tumor markers.

Chemokines are involved in the regulation of immune balance and in triggering an immune response. CXCL1 and CXCL8 belong to the ELR-motif-containing group of CXC chemokines, which, in breast cancer (BC), stimulate angiogenesis and increase migration and invasiveness of tumor cells. The aim of this study was to evaluate CXCL1, CXCL8 and comparative marker CA 15-3 plasma concentrations in BC patients with luminal subtypes A and B. The study group consisted of 100 patients with BC, and the control group of 50 subjects with benign breast lesions and 50 healthy women. Chemokines concentrations were determined by ELISA method; CA15-3-by CMIA. Concentrations of CXCL8 and CA15-3 were significantly higher in BC total group and luminal B (for CA15-3 also in luminal A) subtype of BC than in healthy controls and subjects with benign lesions. In the total BC group, the highest SE, PPV and NPV were observed for CXCL8 (70%, 77.78%, 50%, resp.). A combined analysis of tested chemokines with CA 15-3 increased SE and NPV values (96%, 69.23%, resp.). The diagnostic power of the test (measured by area under ROC curve (AUC)) showed the highest value for CXCL8 in the total BC group (0.6410), luminal A (0.6120) and B subgroup of BC (0.6700). For the combined parameter, the AUC was increasing and reached the highest value for CXCL1 + CXCL8 + CA15-3 combination (0.7024). In light of these results, we suggest that CXCL8 could be used as an additional diagnostic marker that would positively influence the diagnostic utility of CA 15-3, especially in luminal B subtype of BC.

Metalloproteinases (MMPs) play a significant role in cancer pathogenesis. We investigated the levels of MMP-7, MMP-26, MMP-3, and MMP-10 in comparison with the levels of a tumor marker (CA125) in the plasma of postmenopausal patients in early stages of endometrial cancer (EC) compared with control groups: patients with benign lesions (myoma uteri) and healthy controls. Plasma MMP levels were determined by ELISA and CA125 by CMIA methods. The study showed that plasma MMP-7 levels were significantly higher in EC patients compared to both control groups, whereas MMP-3 and MMP-26 levels were significantly higher in EC patients than in healthy women. MMP-7 showed the highest diagnostic sensitivity (SE), specificity (SP), positive (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV), and diagnostic power (AUC) compared to other MMPs or CA125 in EC patients overall and patients with stage I and II EC. A combined analysis showed higher SE, NPV, and AUC levels in total EC patients and stage I and II EC patients—with the highest values for the combination MMP-7+CA125 (96%, 92%, 95%; 95%, 96%, and 98%; 0.9420, 0.9158, and 0.9693, respectively) or MMP-26 with CA125 (86%, 86%, and 86%; 59%, 73%, 73%; 0.8219, 0.8086, and 0.8353, respectively). The results suggest the usefulness of MMPs, especially MMP-7 and MMP-26, in combined panels with CA125 in diagnosing EC patients.

Ovarian cancer (OC) has an extremely unfavourable prognosis. This is due to its asymptomatic course and lack of screening tests. Therefore, new methods are needed to diagnose OC. The aim of this study was to evaluate the concentrations and diagnostic utility of selected matrilysins and stromelysins in the diagnosis of OC in comparison with the classical markers CA125 and HE4. The study group included 100 patients with serous OC, 70 with serous cysts (BL), and 50 healthy women (HW). Selected MMPs were determined by ELISA, routine markers by CMIA. Ovarian cancer patients have elevated concentrations of MMP-7, MMP-26, MMP-10 as well as CA125 and HE4 in the total group and subgroups (stage I + II, and III + IV). The highest values of diagnostic parameters—SP, SE, NPV, PPV, and ACC, as compared to CA125 and HE4, were observed for MMP-7. Performing ROC analyses showed that the highest AUC values were observed for MMP-7, CA125, and HE4, in the whole group of patients and divided into stages I and II according to FIGO. Performing ROC analyses for groups III and IV according to FIGO was associated with an increase in AUC for the MMPs studied. Of the MMPs tested, MMP-7, MMP-26, and MMP-10 have the highest potential in diagnostics of serous ovarian cancer patients.

Background/Objectives: Detection of cervical lesions is crucial for effective prevention and treatment. Therefore, the search for new diagnostic markers is extremely important. This study aimed to evaluate the concentration and diagnostic utility of selected matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) as novel biomarkers. Methods: The study group consisted of 320 participants: 160 patients with cervical cancer (CC), 100 patients with cervical dysplasia (CD), and 60 healthy controls (HC). MMPs were determined by an ELISA (Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay), and CA 125 and SCC-Ag by a CMIA (chemiluminescent microparticle immunoassay). Results: Our study revealed significantly higher concentrations of MMP-7 and MMP-10 in the CC and CD groups compared to healthy controls. Interestingly, concentrations of these two parameters increased with the advancement of the disease. In the case of MMP-3, the highest concentrations were observed in the CD group, moderate concentrations in the group with diagnosed CC, and the lowest in the group of healthy women. Notably, the concentration of this parameter in the CC group decreased with increasing disease advancement. In the case of MMP-26, the highest concentrations, which increased with advancement, were observed in CC, moderate concentrations in HC, and the lowest in the group of women with CD. The highest diagnostic usefulness among all the parameters was shown for MMP-7 (sensitivity (SE): 96%; specificity (SP): 94.14%; positive predictive value (PPV): 92.26%; negative predictive value (NPV): 85.46%; area under the curve (AUC): 0.9878) and MMP-10 (SE: 90.25%; SP: 80.05%; PPV: 92.15%; NPV: 88.45%; AUC: 0.9404). Conclusions: All parameters presented significant differences between the concentrations obtained in the CC group and the CD group, which may indicate their usefulness not only in the diagnosis of cervical cancer, but also in the possible differentiation between benign and malignant lesions.