No significant association for MMP-7, MMP-8, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 with tumour-associated survival was found according to stepwise univariate Cox analyses and thus the medians were used (hazard ratio and 95% confidence interval ranges of the median levels varied from 0.801 to 1.257 and from 0.445 to 2.307, respectively). The gene discussed is MMP9; the disease is neoplasm.