Indeed, MMP14-related control of ECM remodeling46 as well as VEGF expression and bioavailability47, 48 provides hypothetical explanations of our present results obtained from lumican-deficient mice, and thus regarding both melanoma allografts vascularization (Fig. 4c to f) as well as VEGF distribution within tumors (Fig. 3e and f). This evidence concerns the gene MMP14 and melanoma.