MMP13 and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: In addition, AJUBA mRNA levels were significantly associated with elevated MMP10 and MMP13 expression in 179 ESCC tumor tissues (r = 0.441, P < 0.001 and r = 0.404, P < 0.001, respectively, Figure 6C and Supplementary Table S2), suggesting that AJUBA promotes the expression of MMP10 and MMP13 in ESCC.