MMP1 and cancer: We initially assumed that the MMP1 expression levels would increase according to the cancer stage; however, there were no statistically significant differences in the amount of MMP1 mRNA in the EVs according to stage (early or advanced; Fig. 6c, middle panels) or histopathology (Supplementary Fig. 11c), thereby implying that the MMP1 in ascites might be used as a risk indicator of peritoneal dissemination, even in the early stage.