TNC and metastasis: The co-expression of MMP-9 and TN-C was correlated with lymph node metastasis (P < 0.001, χ2 = 13.15), vascular invasion (P = 0.003, χ2 = 8.53), hepatic metastasis (P < 0.001, χ2 = 15.64) and TNM stage (P < 0.001, χ2 = 25.06).