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

Figure 2 Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay determined preoperative and postoperative plasma MMP-7 levels of colorectal cancer patients. MMP-7 levels are expressed as mean ± SD. [preoperative (Preop) vs post-operative day (POD) 1 (n = 87); Preop vs POD 3 (n = 80); Preop vs POD 7-13 (n = 65; ^bP < 0.001); Preop vs POD 14-20 (n = 25, ^bP < 0.001); Preop vs POD 21-27(n-17, ^cP = 0.002); POD 28-34 time point (n = 15, ^bP < 0.001). Statistical significance is expressed as ^bP < 0.001, ^cP < 0.01. POD: Post-operative day; Preop: Preoperative.