MMP2 and neoplasm: Activated Stat3 has been shown to promote cell proliferation, metastasis, and angiogenesis, as well as protect tumor cells from apoptosis by regulating associated genes, such as Bcl-xL, Mcl-1, Bcl-2, Fas, cyclin D1, survivin, c-Myc, VEGF, MMP-2, and MMP-9[5-7].