“…A number of studies using cancer models combined with selective ablation of the candidate gene in mice have thus proven to retard disease progression (Wilson et al, 1997;Itoh et al, 1998;Coussens et al, 2000), while other experiments have demonstrated that MMPs have either a limited role, or in certain instances, confer a protective role in disease progression (Masson et al, 1998;Andarawewa et al, 2003;Balbin et al, 2003;McCawley et al, 2004;Pendas et al, 2004). Collectively, these data demonstrate that the role of MMPs in disease progression is highly diverse and not solely confined to a role in tumor promotion.…”