Jezierska et al (2006) discovered that ALCAM protected breast cancer cells against apoptosis and autophagy. Choi et al (2000) showed that in fibrosarcoma cell lines ALCAM augmented chemoresistance and enhanced the metastatic potential. Lunter et al (2005) showed that ALCAM regulated matrix metalloproteinase-2 in melanoma cell lines, hence contributing to invasive tumour growth. The gene discussed is MMP2; the disease is neoplasm.