MMP7 and metastatic malignant neoplasm in the lymph nodes: The elevated expression of MMP7 was significantly associated with more aggressive tumor characteristics such as deeper invasion (pooled OR = 3.20, P = 0.026; fixed effect), higher TNM stage (pooled OR = 3.67,P<0.001; fixed effect), lymph node metastasis (pooled OR = 2.84,P<0.001; random effect), lymphatic vessels infiltration (pooled OR = 2.39, P = 0.024; fixed effect), blood vessels infiltration (pooled OR = 2.03, P = 0.026; fixed effect) and distant metastasis (pooled OR = 3.68,P<0.001; fixed effect).