ECM1 and neoplasm: Statistically significant differences in ECM1 mRNA expression in tumor tissues between the metastasis group and the non-metastasis group were not found (Mann-Whitney test, P = 0.314); no statistically significant differences were found for the normal breast epithelium tissues or the lymph nodes, between the metastasis and non- metastasis groups (P = 0.754 and P = 0.178, respectively; Table 4).