Reidel et al(11) found that MMP-9 expression in patients with HNSCC correlated with poor survival, high VEGF expression and higher mean vessel density compared to MMP-9-negative tumors, suggesting that MMP-9 functions as a regulator of tumor angiogenesis supporting endothelial cell invasion in human head and neck cancer. The gene discussed is VEGFA; the disease is head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.