MMP2 and lung carcinoma: Since a higher MMP-2 level has been associated with an increased risk of lung cancer, a more aggressive course of the disease, and a higher incidence of distant metastases [23,48,49], we can thereby predict that lung cancer patients with the -735CC genotype, which predisposes to higher MMP concentrations, will have a worsened prognosis and shorter overall survival times than patients with the CT or TT genotype.