The protein levels of MMP-2 (median 10.6; range: 0.0–76.6 ng per mg protein) and MMP-9 (median 37.3; range: 0.5–201.9 ng per mg protein) in the colorectal carcinomas were found not to be related to any of the clinicopathological parameters, although for MMP-2 a stepwise increase with TNM stage was discernable (not shown). This evidence concerns the gene MMP9 and colorectal carcinoma.