MMP9 and neoplasm: NF-κB/signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) signaling is overactivated in CRC and their regulated proteins, such as VEGF, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 and MMP-2, c-Myc and Cyclin D1, and Bcl-2 and X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP), have been linked with tumor angiogenesis, invasion, metastasis, pro-proliferation, and anti-apoptosis, respectively16–20.