Post-translational modifications of the extracellular matrix are also key events in cancer progression: it has been confirmed that the citrullination of cytokeratin, antithrombin, fibronectin, and ADAMTS4 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with thrombospondin motifs-4) is involved in abnormal apoptosis, high coagulation properties, and disordered cell proliferation and differentiation, all of which are main features of malignant tumours[20-25]. The gene discussed is ADAMTS4; the disease is cancer.