MMP9 and pancreatic neoplasm: Transcriptomic data further showed, as previously described (results of qPCR) (58), that the expression of the genes encoding MMP-2 and MMP-9 was upregulated in pancreatic cancer tissues from both STZ and db/db mice; this result was also confirmed by Western blotting (Figures 3A, B) and IHC analyses (Figures 3C, D, all p<0.05).