Patients with high MMP-2 had greater risks of developing a larger tumor (size >1 cm, p<0.001), CLNM (p = 0.002), LLNM (p = 0.046), extrathyroidal invasion (p = 0.004), and advanced TNM stage (p = 0.011) than those with low MMP-2 (Table 3). The gene discussed is MMP2; the disease is neoplasm.