“…MMPs are abundantly detected in numerous malignant neoplasms and have critical implications in almost all stages of tumour progression [2]. Recent studies have shown that aberrant MMP expression is associated with the invasion and metastasis of several malignant tumours (colorectal [3], prostate [4], liver [5], breast [6], retinoblastoma [7], and lung [8]) both in vitro and vivo. Among the MMPs, MMP7 (aka matrilysin1) is the smallest secreted proteolytic enzyme, lacking the C-terminal hemopexin domain compared with other family members, with a wide spectrum of substrate specificity against ECM components, including laminin, type IV collagen, fibronectin, and proteoglycans [9,10], as well as other molecules, such as E-cadherin, β4 integrin, tumour necrosis factor-α, and the Fas ligand [11].…”