Expression of Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 (MMP1) in Breast Cancer: Integrative Survival Analysis of Tumor Characteristics and Clinical Outcomes

Background: Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer type and the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women worldwide. Following a diagnosis of breast cancer, the most immediate challenges in patient management are the determination of prognosis and identification of the most appropriate adjuvant systemic therapy. Determining prognosis can best be addressed with a combination of clinicopathological prognostic factors. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was performed on paraffin blocks of Breast carcinoma, histopathological findings were reviewed and recorded, Immunohistochemistry (IHC) for Matrix Metalloproteinase-1 (MMP1) proteins were performed. The investigation incorporated key clinical variables including hormone receptor status (Estrogen Receptor (ER) and Progesterone Receptor (PR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) expression, tumor laterality, focality and pathological grade. Results: Statistical analyses encompassed descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, Cox proportional hazards regression and survival curve estimation using Kaplan-Meier methodology revealed strong intercorrelations between survival metrics and identified matrix MMP1 as a significant negative prognostic indicator across all survival endpoints. Chi-square analysis demonstrated significant association between HER2 and ER status, suggesting distinct biological subtypes with varying therapeutic implications. Conclusion: This study identifies MMP1 as a potent independent prognostic marker for poor survival in breast cancer. The results advocate for the integration of MMP1 assessment with standard biomarker profiling to enhance prognostic accuracy and inform clinical decision-making for personalized patient management.