MMP9 and hepatocellular carcinoma: To confirm this, we evaluated the expression of some key angiogenic factors, including activator molecules (VEGF-A, bFGF, TGF-β, MCP-1, MMP-9, TSP-1), inhibitor molecules (endostatin, TIMP-1, TIMP-2), and the transcript factors (COX-2, NOS-2), in AT and TT using HCC tissue arrays.