Plasma levels of matrix metalloproteinases 2 and 9 correlate with histological grade in breast cancer patients.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are proteolytic enzymes involved in the process of tumor invasion and metastasis that are found throughout tissues and also in the plasma. The aim of this study was to investigate whether the evaluation of plasma concentrations of MMPs 2, 3 and 9 may have clinical significance in breast cancer. Therefore, sera obtained from 80 patients with breast neoplasia (50 carcinomas and 30 fibroadenomas) were collected before and 96 h after surgery and the concentrations of MMPs 2, 3 and 9 were quantified using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).

[Thyreopathy associated with vagus schwannoma].

We report the case of a young woman who underwent total thyroidectomy for a suspect nodular thyreopathy and occasionally happened to be affected simultaneously by vagus nerve schwannoma. Symptomatology is discussed and we propose a review of the literature about this non frequent pathology and discuss the latest diagnostic procedures and surgical indications and treatment.