Objective To detect the interleukin -1β( IL -1β) , interleukin -8 ( IL -8 ) and matrix metalloproteinase-2/9 ( MMP-2/9 ) levels in breast cancer patients , and to explore the relationship and clinical significance of IL-1β,IL-8 and MMP-2 /9 with development of breast cancer .Methods The serum samples of 60 cases with breast cancer (A group),30 cases of breast hyperplasia (B group),30 healthy subjects(C group), 60 breast cancer patients one month after operation ( D group) were randomly collected .The serum levels of IL -1β, IL-8,MMP -2/9 in the four groups were detected.Results Compared with C group [(35.93 ±3.44) ng/L, (17.63 ±2.73)ng/L,(91.55 ±2.43)ng/L,(99.71 ±3.94)ng/L],the IL-1β,IL-8,MMP-2,MMP-9 levels in A group[(154.75 ±4.45) ng/L,(62.88 ±3.16) ng/L,(213.04 ±2.51) ng/L,(253.04 ±2.51)ng/L] and D group[(104.75 ±3.78)ng/L,(39.94 ±3.16)ng/L,(148.26 ±2.31)ng/L,(153.04 ±2.51)ng/L] were signif-icantly increased,the differences were statistically significant (A group:t=128.21,66.90,219.59,224.38,all P<0.05;D group:all P<0.05).Compared with C group,the IL-1β,IL-8,MMP-2,MMP-9 levels of B group were not significantly increased [(56.22 ±2.94) ng/L,(20.63 ±2.36)ng/L,(104.75 ±3.16) ng/L,(109.71 ± 3.94)ng/L] (t=24.56,4.55,5.38,4.55,all P<0.05).Compared with A group,the IL-1β,IL-8,MMP-2, MMP-9 levels of D group were significantly reduced ,the differences were statistically significant ( t=66.33,39.76, 147.14,218.22,all P<0.05).Conclusion There is a close relationship between IL -1β,IL-8,MMP-2/9 and breast cancer development ,combined detection of four indicators has important implication for clinical diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer .