VEGFA and acute lymphoblastic leukemia: In the field of oncology, for example, the expression of MMP-2 and MMP-9, which are members of the endopeptidase family that can degrade different components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) [87], are upregulated by acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cells and hydrolyze the basement membrane of blood vessels, releasing matrix-bound vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), inducing angiogenesis and stimulating extramedullary infiltration by lymphoblasts [133].