Furthermore, logistic regression analysis showed that low hepsin and TMPRSS3 protein expression levels were positively associated with advanced clinical stages III and IV (hepsin: P = 0.005; OR, 2.757; 95 % CI, 1.354-5.611 and TMPRSS3: P = 0.028; OR, 2.176; 95 % CI, 1.086-4.361) and that low hepsin expression was positively associated with larger tumor sizes (T3 and T4; P = 0.034; OR, 2.266; 95 % CI, 1.065-4.82), which indicates more extensive disease. The gene discussed is TMPRSS3; the disease is neoplasm.