Membrane type-1 MMP (MT1-MMP) was the first member of the membrane-bound MMPs to be identified, and it plays a crucial role in tumour growth, angiogenesis, invasion and, ultimately, development of metastasis (Sato et al, 1994; Zhou et al, 2000; Sabeh et al, 2004; Itoh and Seiki, 2006). The gene discussed is MMP14; the disease is neoplasm.