MMP16 and hepatocellular carcinoma: Moreover, ZFAS1 has been shown to function as an oncogene in HCC progression by sponging miR-150 and de-repressing its regulation of zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 protein, matrix metalloproteinase 14 (MMP14), and matrix metalloproteinase 16 (MMP16) expression [19].