MALAT1 and cancer: Moreover, MALAT1 was shown to promote the invasion of cancer cell by inducing the expression of MMP9, and the activation of the ERK/MAPK pathway participates in this process.16 In addition, MALAT1 can also interact with the unmethylated form of CBX4, which controls the relocation of growth-control genes between the polycomb bodies and interchromatin granules, sites of silent or active gene expression, respectively.27