Analysing the effect of different treatment approaches on TIMP‐1 and MMP‐9 levels for late stage BC, Yuan et al found that after radio‐chemotherapy all patients showed lower MMP‐9 serum levels and higher TIMP‐1 levels than those before treatment.52 Other authors have found a correlation between low levels of TIMP‐3 and tumour aggressiveness (high tumour grading and lymph node metastasis) and poor disease‐free survival.40, 41. This evidence concerns the gene MMP9 and neoplasm.