MMP-2 and MMP-9 are the primary MMPs responsible for BM degradation and both have reported to degrade collagen type IV which is one of the main components in the basement membrane35,36, and SPOCK1 has been reported to increase the expression and activity of MMP-9 in a hepatocellular carcinoma cell line37. Here, SPOCK1 is linked to hepatocellular carcinoma.