MMP9 and cancer: Known gene targets of non-canonical NF-κB signaling include important mediators of cell proliferation, such as cyclin D1; cell survival, such as Bcl-x; and tumor invasion and vascular growth, such as MMP-9 and VEGF, all of which are frequently deregulated in cancer cells, contribute to epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, and have been associated with poor prognosis [58–60].