Serine proteases can degrade extracellular matrix proteins as well as growth factors such as epidermal growth factor (EGF), fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) and hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF-SF) [5] and are involved in tumour cell invasion, angiogenesis and metastasis [6]. This evidence concerns the gene EGF and neoplasm.