MMP9 and neoplasm: With regard to global expression (score values) of MMPs and TIMPs, our result showed a direct correlation between MMP-2 score values and CD3 (r = 0.21, p = 0.038), CD20 (r = 0.25, p = 0.011) or CD68 (r = 0.32, p = 0.001) counts at the invasive front; whereas MMP-9 score values correlated with CD68 count (r = 0.21, p = 0.041) in this same tumor location.