The Role of Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in Breast Cancer Progression, Histopathological Correlates and Tumor Microenvironment Dynamics: A Narrative Review

DOI

10.2991/978-94-6239-807-8_8How to use a DOI?

Keywords

Breast Cancer; Matrix Metalloproteinase-9; Tumor Microenvironment; Histopathology; Prognosis

Abstract

Breast cancer progression is shaped by reciprocal interactions among malig-nant cells, stroma, and immune cells. Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), also known as gelatinase B, degrades type IV collagen of the basement membrane and functions as a pleiotropic regulator of invasion, angiogenesis, epithelial–mesenchymal transition, and microenvironmental remodeling. This narrative review synthesizes evidence from ten observational studies (2018–2025) that assessed MMP-9 in breast cancer by immuno-histochemistry, quantitative immunofluorescence, histoscore-based analysis, or serum-based testing, with emphasis on histopathology, tumor micro-environment, and prognosis. Across the reviewed cohorts, higher MMP-9 expression was most consistently associated with aggressive features—higher histological grade, advanced pT stage, lymphovascular invasion, and hormone-receptor negativity. Stromal and macrophage-associated MMP-9 further implicated the tumor microenvironment, particularly in ER-negative and triple-negative disease. Prognostic findings were heterogeneous: some cohorts found no independent survival effect, whereas others reported shorter disease-specific survival or subgroup-specific risk. Overall, MMP-9 bridges aggressive histopathological phenotypes and a pro-metastatic microenvironment, representing a promising prognostic biomarker and candidate therapeutic target whose clinical translation awaits standardized assessment and prospective validation.

Copyright

© 2026 The Author(s)

Open Access

Open Access This chapter is licensed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/), which permits any noncommercial use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license and indicate if changes were made.

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TY  - CONF
AU  - Deka Miftalia Anugrah Putri
AU  - Rosalie Aurellia Wibowo
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/24
TI  - The Role of Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in Breast Cancer Progression, Histopathological Correlates and Tumor Microenvironment Dynamics: A Narrative Review
BT  - Proceedings of the Malang International Conference on Medical and Health Sciences (MICROMEDHS 2026)
PB  - Atlantis Press
SP  - 83
EP  - 93
SN  - 2468-5739
UR  - https://doi.org/10.2991/978-94-6239-807-8_8
DO  - 10.2991/978-94-6239-807-8_8
ID  - Putri2026
ER  -