Enzyme immunoassay showed that the content of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) 2 and 7 in tumors was higher than in the adjacent histologically intact tissue in 91 and 76% patients with breast cancer, respectively, while MMP-9 levels in the tumor and intact tissue were virtually the same. Serum concentrations of MMP-2 and MMP-7 did not correlate with their levels in the tumors, were within the normal range, and virtually did not decrease after removal of the primary tumor. Serum levels of MMP-9 in patients were significantly lower than in the control and increased after surgery in 85% patients. No clear-cut relationship between the studied parameters and clinical morphological prognostic factors of breast cancer was detected.

Here we present the results of comparative immunoenzyme assay of the initial serum levels of VEGF in breast cancer patients (stages T1N0M0 and T2N0M0) and apparently healthy women (controls). It was found that VEGF concentrations in the serum of patients with breast cancer stages T1N0M0 and T2N0M0 significantly surpassed the control levels. Increased levels of VEGF surpassing the threshold values were more often observed in patients with T2N0M0 breast cancer compared to patients with T1N0M0 tumor. At the same time, this marker cannot be used in the diagnostics of this disease because in only 21.4% patients serum level of VEGF surpassed the upper boundary for this growth factor observed in the serum of control women. Serum concentration of VEGF in patients with stages T1N0M0 and T2N0M0 breast cancer did not depend on patient's age and reproductive function and receptor status of the primary tumor (estrogen and progesterone receptors), but was closely associated with tumor histogenesis and differentiation degree. Significantly higher levels of VEGF were observed in patients with lobular infiltrative breast carcinoma compared to patients with ductal tumors and in patients with low-differentiated tumors compared to highly and moderately differentiated tumors. High initial concentrations of VEGF (>300 pg/ml) were more often detected in patients with T2N0M0 breast cancer developing relapses within the first 3 years of follow-up compared to patients without relapses during the corresponding period (p=0.001). These findings suggest that serum level of VEGF in patients with T2N0M0 breast cancer before treatment can be used as an additional marker in parallel with standard clinical and morphological signs of the disease for more precise prognosis of early relapse (during the first 3 years of follow-up).