Table 4.

Serum levels of biomarkers tested in colorectal cancer patients in relation to presence of MMP-2 and TIMP-2 expression in colorectal cancer cells, interstitial inflammatory infiltrate cells and in normal colorectal tissue

Variable analyzed	No.	Serum MMP-2 (ng/mL)		Serum TIMP-2 (ng/mL)
		Median (range)	p	Median (range)	p
Expression of MMP-2 in colorectal cancer cells
Negative	55	176 (87–476)	0.047*	81 (35–132)	0.162
Positive	17	202 (145–361)		90 (64–110)
Expression of MMP-2 in inflammatory cells
Negative	36	172 (87–296)	0.128	83 (35–110)	0.761
Positive	36	185 (115–476)		81 (36–132)
Expression of MMP-2 in normal colorectal tissue
Negative	71	179 (87–476)	0.548	82 (35–132)	0.194
Positive	1	204		69
Expression of TIMP-2 in colorectal cancer cells
Negative	9	175 (114–230)	0.319	85 (73–92)	0.615
Positive	63	182 (87–476)		81 (35–132)
Expression of TIMP-2 in inflammatory cells
Negative	18	150 (87–230)	<0.001*	78 (35–106)	0.080
Positive	54	199 (115–476)		83 (61–132)
Expression of TIMP-2 in normal colorectal tissue
Negative	61	175 (87–476)	0.040*	80 (35–132)	0.161
Positive	11	207 (159–3,170)		90 (68–110)

*p < 0.05, statistically significant