MMP9 and neoplasm: TAM activities can also have an impact on degradation and remodeling of the extracellular matrix (ECM), through the production of different classes of enzymes and proteases, such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs in particular MMP2 and MMP9), plasmin, urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA), and cathepsins, thereby influencing tumor invasion and the metastatic process (38–40).