In particular, the expression of the nutrient transporter genes (SLC2A1, SLC16A1 and SLC5A8), genes encoding proteins involved in tissue remodelling and tumour invasion (MMP-2, -7, -9 and -12, and the MMP regulator RECK), were examined in two sets of normal human colon and colorectal tumour samples and in four human colorectal cancer cell lines. The gene discussed is MMP2; the disease is colorectal neoplasm.