MMP8 levels in controls and lymph node negative patients (pN0) were lower than those in patients with moderate lymph node involvement (pN1, pN2); but higher than those in patients with extensive lymph node metastasis (pN3) and a high risk of distant metastasis, illustrated in Figure 3. This evidence concerns the gene MMP8 and metastatic malignant neoplasm in the lymph nodes.