Since MMP-14 is overexpressed in neuroblastoma and closely associated with invasive depth and distant metastasis, our findings suggest that targeting miR-23a may effectively inhibit glioma invasion and metastasis, probably through MMP-14 pathway, however, further studies are warranted to confirm the connection between miR-23a and MMP-14 signaling cascade. Here, MMP14 is linked to central nervous system cancer.