Expression of Matrix Metalloproteinase 11 Gene as a Potential Biomarker of Breast Cancer

Breast cancer is among the most prevalent malignancies and a primary contributor to cancer-related mortality in women globally. Matrix metalloproteinase 11 (MMP11) is a crucial regu-lator of tumor invasion and metastasis, degrading the extracellular matrix and correlating with an unfavorable prognosis in the majority of malignancies. Nonetheless, its expression pattern and prognostic capacity in breast cancer remain undefined. This study aimed to evaluate the expression and mutation status of the MMP11 gene in Bangladeshi breast cancer patients. Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) was conducted on tumor and adjacent normal tissues from 34 female patients recruited from Dhaka Medical College Hospital. The results indicated that the median expression of MMP11 was considerably elevated in tumor tissues (3.402 (IQR 2.097–5.133)) compared to normal tissues (1.895 (IQR 1.306–2.128), p=0.02). Among clinical variables, only the relationships of BMI, family history, age at menarche, contraceptive usage, and breastfeeding with MMP11 expression were statistically significant. Our results suggested that MMP11 was substantially expressed in breast cancer and might be a potential biomarker in breast cancer development. The identification of this gene’s role in tumor biology necessitates additional research to clarify its functional processes and therapeutic significance. These findings establish the framework for future studies that attempt to incorporate MMP11 into diagnostic or prognostic tests, with the potential to develop customized therapy methods for breast cancer patients.