MMP9 and neoplasm: In later stages, tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) tend to polarise towards an M2 phenotype which secrete IL-10 and TGF beta, promoting immunosuppression, impairing T cells and influencing the tumour microenvironment (TME) through angiogenesis (such as VEGF) and the extracellular matrix (such as through MMP9) [38].