Farshad Naghshvar - Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Zhila Torabizadeh - Gut and Liver Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Imam Hospital, Sari, Iran
Jamshid Yazdani Charati - Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
Mohammad Akbarnezhad - Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Imam Hospital, Sari, Iran

Background: Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in the world, particularly in Iran. There are many genomic and molecular factors that cause the occurrence of breast cancer. Many markers are associated with tumor invasiveness. Matrix metalloproteinase includes a family of zinc-dependent endopeptidases that degrade various components of the extracellular matrix and basement membrane. Matrix metalloproteinase expressions increase in thyroid, colorectal, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, lung, and ovarian cancers. It is correlated with tumor angiogenesis, invasion, and metastasis. Matrix metalloproteinase ۱۱ is a member of the stromelysin subclass of the matrix metalloproteinase family. This enzyme is secreted to become a potentially active form against other matrix metalloproteinases. Contradictory results exist regarding the correlation between matrix metalloproteinase ۱۱ expression and clinicopathologic parameters in breast cancer.Methods: This case-control study examined ۸۰ invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast and ۸۰ adjacent nonneoplastic breast tissue paraffin blocks to identify the relationship between matrix metalloproteinase ۱۱ expression and clinicopathologic parameters such as age, tumor size, microscopic grade, perineural and vascular invasion, lymph node involvement, and stage by immunohistochemistry analysesResults: Among the ۸۰ patients, ۸۶.۳% showed matrix metalloproteinase ۱۱ expression in tumor cells and ۱۷.۵% had matrix metalloproteinase ۱۱ expression in adjacent normal breast tissue. This expression correlated with stage, grade, lymph node metastasis, and perineural and vascular invasion (P۰.۰۵). Conclusion: Matrix metalloproteinase ۱۱ expression is increased in breast cancer and may be used as a predictive factor for tumor invasiveness.