MMP9 and non-small cell lung carcinoma: VATS major lung resection for non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) was known to be associated with differences in circulating levels of a number of chemokines, such as a higher circulating levels of insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)-3, and lower levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1, compared to the thoracotomy approach10.