Table 3.

Clinicopathological Features of DTC and the Levels of MMPs and TIMPs in Peripheral Blood)

Pathological Characteristics		n	MMP-2	MMP-9	TIMP-1	TIMP-2
(ng/mL)	(ng/mL)	(ng/mL)	(ng/mL)
TNM	Phase I	17	80.14±17.30	108.43±21.30	78.44±20.37	62.23±21.52
Phase II, III	40	140.57±32.30a	157.20±24.58a	130.27±28.43a	102.17±23.38a
Tumor size	<1.0 cm	10	76.54±20.32	90.28±26.30	86.27±20.30	60.49±21.30
≥1.0 cm	47	143.27±27.54b	148.24±31.46b	140.42±28.19b	112.20±29.58b
Extent of infiltration	Limited to the thyroid	41	75.24±25.37	101.27±25.32	102.63±20.49	58.47±23.57
Outside the thyroid	16	147.19±26.33c	156.36±17.54c	154.24±26.50c	119.43±19.35c
Lymph metastasis	No	37	81.46±20.39	91.20±21.52	100.20±20.73	59.71±16.33
Yes	20	152.28±24.62d	150.98±26.74d	152.23±21.27d	120.20±22.36d

Notes: ^aCompared with Phase I, P<0.05. ^bCompared with patients with tumor size <1.0 cm, P<0.05. ^cCompared with patients with tumor limit in thyroid, P<0.05. ^dCompared with patients without lymph metastasis, P<0.05.