MMP9 and breast cancer: The levels of serum TGF- β 1, MMP-9 and IL-1β in BC subgroup (TGF-β1: 27.18 ± 6.24, MMP-9: 73.17 ± 12.84, IL-1β: 132.86 ± 40.43) were significantly higher than those in control subgroup (TGF-β1: 13.45 ± 4.36, MMP-9: 18.91 ± 5.70, IL-1β: 40.17 ± 3.86) (p < 0.05).