MMP2 and cancer: Notably, forced expression of miR-23a triggered marked alterations in the expression levels of glial-mesenchymal transition (GMT)-related genes, as previously reported,14 with increased expression of Snail, Slug, MMP2, MMP9, and MMP14 and decreased expression of E-Cadherin, especially in LN443 cells (Fig. 3b, c); these genes are perceived as so-called epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related genes in other cancers.