MMP9 and neoplasm: The decreased level of cytokines that stimulate those pathways (TNF-α, IL-1β and IL-6), lowered protein levels of the activated transcription factors (STAT3 and NF-κB) and decreased protein or expression levels of their target genes (TNF-α, IL-6, COX-2, MMP-2, MMP-9 and Bcl-2) confirm the inhibition of the key pathways in inflammation-mediated tumor promotion and progression.