MMP9 and neoplasm: With regard to the tumor expression of the MMP9 gene, an increase of this gene expression was noted in tumors with TNM III and IV staging compared with TNM I and II staging (P = 0.0001), in venous invasion tumors compared with those without venous invasion (P < 0.001), and in carcinoma tumors with a villous component compared with carcinomas without a villous component (P < 0.0001).