BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the correlations between ADAMTSs expression and breast invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), and to offer a theoretical basis for novel treatment methods for IDC patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: Non-proliferative catheter of breast fibroadenoma (FA) and IDC were used as the normal control and experimental group, respectively. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining and Western blot (WB) analysis was used to assess protein expression levels of ADAMTS8, ADAMTS18, and ADAMTS20 in both FA and IDC tissues. The results of IHC, the relationship between the protein expression and the tumor molecular classification, and clinical pathological parameters were all evaluated.

RESULTS: IHC and WB results showed that the expression of ADAMTS8/18 in IDC samples was higher than in FA samples, while the expression of ADAMTS20 in IDC samples was lower than that in FA samples. According to the results of WB, the level of ADAMTS8 was higher in the HER2+ group than in the HER2– group and FA group. The expression of ADAMTS18 in the HR+ (including ER+ and PR+) group was significantly higher than in the HR- group and FA group. The expression of ADAMTS18 protein was also higher in the Ki67+ group than in the Ki67– group. ADAMTS20 was higher in HER2+ IDC compared with the basal subtype of IDC.

CONCLUSIONS: ADAMTS8/18/20 levels were not significantly correlated to the molecular subtype of IDC. ADAMTS18/20 was significantly associated with histological grade of IDC. ADAMTS8 may predict poor prognosis results of IDC patients.

Keywords: Matrix Metalloproteinase 8, Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast, Matrix Metalloproteinase 20, Matrix Metalloproteinases