To assess possible correlations between the serum levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 and the stage of the disease, the following clinical parameters were utilised: tumour size, lymph node involvement, tumour stage, histological grading, oestrogen receptor (ER) levels (76 out of 80 cases), progesterone receptor (PR) levels (76 cases), c-erbB-2 levels (46 cases). The gene discussed is PGR; the disease is neoplasm.