Increased MMP-1 expression in various tumor cells is significantly correlated with cancer progression. Enhanced secreted and intracellular level of MMP-1 is found in breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 in presence of ECM glycoprotein fibronectin. To extrapolate this study into in vivo system, we observed the expression of MMP-1, fibronectin and α₅β₁ integrin, which is the receptor for fibronectin, in breast cancer tissue samples. Expression of active form of MMP-1 was increased in tumor samples compared with the non-tumor counterpart. In some samples pro-MMP-1 was decreased but active form was increased in tumor part. The difference was more prominent in advanced stage tumor. ELISA showed appreciable increase in expression of α₅ and β₁integrins in tumor tissue in comparison to the non tumor counterpart in case of advanced stage tumor. Though there is no appreciable difference in fibronectin concentration, enhanced α₅, β₁ integrin expression may mediate enhanced cell-ECM interaction to upregulate MMP-1 in tumor samples compared with the matched control.