MMP2 and neoplasm: To explore the molecular mechanisms by which miR-101 exerts its tumor-suppressive effects, we examined the effects of this miRNA on the activation of STAT3, which is the predominant mediator of CXCR7 signaling, and the protein levels of STAT3 targets, including cyclin D1, Mcl-1, Bcl-2, E-cadherin, Snail, matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), and MMP9.