High levels of TIMP-2 correlate with adverse prognosis in breast cancer

TIMP-2 is an endogenous inhibitor of MMPs, Most data from model systems sug gest that high levels of this inhibitor prevent metastasis, In human breast cancers, however, we show that high levels of TIMP-2. correlate with both shortened disease-free interval and overall survival. In primary breast can cers, TIMP-2 levels showed no significant relationship with either tumor si ze or axillary node status but correlated inversely with estrogen receptor levels. TIMP-2 levels also correlated significantly with those for TIMP-1, We conclude that high levels of endogenous TIMP-2, like other protease inhi bitors such as PAI-1 and TIMP-1, correlate with progression of human breast cancer. (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.