MMP9 and colorectal carcinoma: The present study identified VEGF-A, known to be regulated by hypoxia in other cell types, as a hypoxia-responsive gene in CRC cells, together with 8 additional hypoxia-regulated genes namely ANGPT1, ANGPTL3, ANGPTL4, EFNA1, EFNA3, VEGF receptor FLT1, MMP9 and TGFβ1.