As demonstrated by real-time-PCR, U94 expression also induced a strong down-modulation of TWIST, a well-established transcription factor inducing EMT and promoting tumor invasion and metastasis [19], as well as a concomitant down-regulation of the mesenchymal markers N-cadherin, Snail1, and MMP2 (Figure 4E). This evidence concerns the gene MMP2 and neoplasm.