MMP2 and cancer: The AUC for TIMP-2 (0.8698) was larger than for CEA (AUC = 0.7958, p < 0.001), MMP-2 (AUC = 0.7405, p < 0.001), and for SCC-Ag (AUC = 0.5695, p = 0.3520) Additionally, the serum levels of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 tended to decrease in more advanced stages of cancer; therefore, the levels of both proteins did not show a significant correlation with the tumor stage.