Plasma MMP-2 and MMP-7 levels are elevated first month after surgery and may promote growth of residual metastases

Figure 1 Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay determined preoperative and postoperative plasma MMP-2 levels of colorectal cancer patients. MMP-2 levels are expressed as mean ± SD [preoperative (Preop) vs post-operative day (POD) 1 (n = 87, ^aP < 0.001); Preop vs POD 3 (n = 80, ^aP < 0.001); Preop vs POD 7-13(n = 65, ^aP < 0.001); Preop vs POD 14 -20 (n = 25, ^aP < 0.001); Preop vs POD 21-27(n = 17, ^aP < 0.001); POD 28-34 time point (n = 15, ^aP < 0.001)]. Statistical significance is expressed as ^aP < 0.001. POD: Post-operative day; Preop: Preoperative.