TURKISH JOURNAL OF MEDICAL SCIENCES, cilt.42, sa.2, ss.281-288, 2012 (SCI-Expanded)
Aim: To investigate the role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), MMP-9 and MMP-2, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in metastasis and their relationship with survival. Early metastasis is the most common cause of lung cancer death. Angiogenesis and basement membrane damage are necessary for growth and invasion of the tumoral cells. VEGF, involved in angiogenic activity, and MMPs, involved in matrix destruction, are important for metastasis in lung cancer.