Figure 3.

The action of MMP-13 in cancer progression and metastasis: MMP-13, produced by cancer cells and stromal fibroblasts, cleaves ECM and leads to ECM remodelling and liberation of ECM-bound growth factors and angiogenic factors that promote tumour cell proliferation, invasion, EMT and angiogenesis at primary tumour sites. At distant metastasis sites, MMP-13-mediated ECM remodelling and release of growth factors and collagen IV peptides help the recruitment of immune cells to the pre-metastatic niche and the establishment of a favourable metastasis environment.