PKD2 and cancer: For example in pancreatic cancer cells, PKD2 regulates both the expression and secretion of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) 7/9.24 In prostate cancer cells PKD2 and 3 also increase the expression of MMP9 and the urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) via NF-κB and HDAC1.27 This results in breakdown of extracellular matrix (ECM), consequently increasing cancer cell invasiveness.