In addition, the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and matrix metallopeptidase 9 (MMP-9), downstream target genes of NDRG2 [17,18], was also decreased in NB cells treated with recombinant ITLN1 protein or stably transfected with ITLN1 (Figure 1A, B and C). The gene discussed is MMP9; the disease is neuroblastoma.