MMP9 and gastric cancer: The main objective of this study was to determine significant differences between thegroups in whom curative surgery could be performed and could not be performed(pathological stage >3) by measuring preoperative serum CK-18, MMP-9 and TIP-1levels in gastric adenocarcinoma considered to be operable (clinical stage <4).In the cases of gastric cancers, preoperative diagnostic methods considerablydetermine the operability in patients; however, the laparotomies done with the hopeof resection cannot reach its goal in a considerable number of patients.