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.

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.

Background/Objectives: Endometrioid ovarian cancer (EnOC) is a late-diagnosed gynecological cancer with limited diagnostic methods that, when detected at an early stage, has a good prognosis. This study is the first to evaluate the plasma concentrations and diagnostic utility of selected metalloproteinases as new biomarkers for EnOC. Methods: The study group consisted of 50 newly diagnosed, untreated patients with EnOC; the control group consisted of 25 patients with endometrial cysts, 25 patients with serous cysts, and 50 healthy women. Selected matrilysins and stromelysins were determined by means of immunoenzymatic assay (ELISA) and routine markers (CA125 and HE4) using the chemiluminescence (CMIA) method. Results: Higher levels of MMP-7, MMP-10, MMP-11, and MMP-26 were found in patients with EnOC when compared to healthy women. Concentrations of MMP-7, MMP-10, and MMP-11 were higher in women with EnOC when compared to benign lesions (BL). The highest SE (98.55%), NPV (95.41%), ACC (57.58%), and AUC (0.9658) values were obtained for MMP-7. High values of diagnostic parameters were also obtained for MMP-11 and MMP-26. Conclusions: These results suggest the usefulness of MMP-7, MMP-26, and MMP-11 in the diagnosis of EnOC as new biomarkers in this pilot study.

Matrilysins and stromelysins play a vital role in cancer, facilitating tumor invasion and metastasis. The aim of this study was to investigate the diagnostic significance of selected matrilysins and stromelysins in comparison to routine tumor markers in gynecological malignancies, relative to a control group (benign tumors and healthy women). Preoperative plasma levels of selected metalloproteinases were determined using ELISA, while levels of CA125, SCC-Ag, and HE4 by CMIA. In endometrial and cervical cancers, matrilysins (MMP-7 and MMP-26) exhibited higher diagnostic utility than routine markers. Similarly, all stromelysins in cervical cancer outperformed CA125; furthermore, MMP-10 also outperformed SCC-Ag, achieving the highest diagnostic utility among all parameters tested in cervical cancer. For ovarian cancer, diagnostic utility remained highest for routine markers. In endometrial and cervical cancers, the AUCs for all studied parameters exceeded those of standard markers, while in ovarian cancer, MMP-7 had an AUC higher than HE4 and comparable to CA 125. Combined analysis of the studied parameters in diagnostic panels demonstrated that their introduction into routine diagnostics could provide tangible benefits in the detection of malignant gynecological lesions, especially the combination of MMP-7 or MMP-10 with routine markers. These results indicate the usefulness and high diagnostic power of selected MMPs in the detection of these malignancies.