The association of MMP-2 and MMP-9 located in epithelium and stroma, with the tumor stage according to FIGO, only demonstrated a significant association between the FIGO stage and MMP-2 located in the stroma of the tumor, with ovarian tumors classified at stages III and IV displaying a reduced presence of MMP-2 in the stroma of the tumor; all other comparisons were not significant (Table 3). Here, MMP9 is linked to neoplasm.