In the present study, we examined the expression of MMP-2, MMP-9, MT1-MMP, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 mRNA in human renal cell carcinoma tissues by a reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay and examined the correlation between their expression and clinicopathological parameters. Here, MMP9 is linked to hereditary clear cell renal cell carcinoma.