Istraživanjem je analizirana pojava peritumorskih pukotina u duktalnom invazivnom karcinomu dojke, ekspresija matriks metaloproteinaze-2 i p63 u tumorskim stanicama te povezanost pojave peritumorskih pukotina s ekspresijom matriks metaloproteinaze-2 i p63. Također je analizirana korelacija pojave peritumorskih pukotina te ekspresije matriks-mateloproteinaze-2 i p63 s ostalim obilježjima tumora - uključujući dob bolesnica, histološki gradus, veličinu tumora, status pazušnih limfnih čvorova, TNM klasifikaciju, stadij bolesti, ekspresiju estrogenskih i progesteronskih receptora te ekspresiju proteina Her2/neu. Rezultati istraživanja pokazuju da se peritumorske pukotine statistički značajno češće pojavljuju kod starijih bolesnica (p=0,010) i u većim tumorima (p=0,018). Nije nađena statistički značajna povezanost ekspresije matriks metaloproteinaze-2 s pojavom peritumorskih pukotina niti u odnosu na ostala promatrana obilježja. Pozitivna ekspresija p63 je nađena u samo jednom karcinomu, histološkog gradusa III. Pozitivna ekspresija p63 u mioepitelnim stanicama okolnog zdravog tkiva dojke, te izostanak imunoreaktivnosti u karcinomima s peritumorskim pukotinama, upućuje na povezanost pojave peritumorskih pukotina s gubitkom mioepitelnih stanica. In this study we analyzed the presence and correlation of peritumoral retraction clefting and the expression of matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2) and p63 in invasive ductal breast carcinoma. The occurrence of peritumoral clefting and expression of MMP-2 and p63 was also correlated to patient age, tumor size and histological grade, axillary lymph node status, TNM stage, stage of the disease and the expression of Her2/neu, estrogen and progesterone receptors. The results show a statistically significant higher occurrence of peritumoral clefting in older patients (p=0,010) and larger tumors (p=0,018). The expression of MMP-2 did not show statistically significant correlation to peritumoral clefting nor to other parameters. p63 expression was found only in one grade III carcinoma. p63 expression in the myoepithelial cells of the surrounding normal breast tissue and the lack in carcinomas showing peritumoral clefting, indicates the correlation between the loss of myoepitelial cells and the occurrence of peritumoral retraction clefting.