Because matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have long been associated with cancer-cell invasion and metastasis [36], we verified that overexpression or knockdown of Barx2 led to decreased or increased expression levels of the biomarkers MMP-2 and MMP-7, consistent with results that Barx2 prohibits GC cell migration and invasion in vitro. The gene discussed is MMP2; the disease is cancer.