The induction/upregulation of various MMPs (e.g. MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-7 and/or MMP-9) has been detected in tumourous liver tissues obtained from, e.g. hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients, whereas the expression of plasminogen activators appears to be largely confined to stromal and inflammatory cells. Here, MMP7 is linked to neoplasm.