Furthermore, with the increase of pathological grading, the staining intensity of LCN-2 and MMP-9 in neoplastic cells of LSTs gradually increased, and LCN-2 and MMP-9 staining intensity in high-grade intraepithelial LSTs was more intense than in TNM stage I colorectal carcinomas, respectively (Figs. 3 and 4). Here, LCN2 is linked to colorectal carcinoma.