EXPRESSION OF STROMELYSIN-3 IN MEDULLARY CARCINOMA OF THE BREAST

Matrix metalloproteinases are belived to play a central role in the in vasion and metastasis of human cancers by mediating the degration of e xtracellular matrix components. Expression of stromelysin-3 (ST3), a n ew member of matrix metalloproteinase family, was investigated by in s itu hybridization in 32 tissue samples of medullary carcinoma of the b reast. Eighty-four per cent of the cases showed ST3 gene expression in stromal cells adjacent to tumor cells. Therefore, expression of ST3 i n stromal cells may be expected to play a significant role in the dest ruction of extracellular matrix and invasion of medullary carcinoma of the breast.