DISTRIBUTION OF STROMELYSIN-3 MESSENGER-RNA TRANSCRIPTS AND MICROVESSELS IN HUMAN BREAST CARCINOMAS

Several proteinases, implicated in tumor invasion, are expressed in fi broblastic cells surrounding neoplastic cells, and are believed to be induced by paracrine stimulation. Such stimulation, by the local relea se of angiogenic factors, is also responsible for the induction of new capillary blood vessels, a crucial aspect of tumor growth and metasta sis. We have here compared the expression of a matrix metalloproteinas e, stromelysin-3 (ST3), with the distribution of tumor microvessels in invasive breast carcinomas. The highest level of ST3 mRNA in each tum or was recorded and compared to the highest microvessel density. No co rrelation between these two parameters was observed by analysis of 63 tumors. Detailed examination of 19 individual tumors did not reveal an y correlation between the distribution of ST3 mRNA and microvessels. I n the material studied here, ST3 expression was observed to correlate with long-term survival of the patients, whereas microvessel density d id not correlate.