MMP9 and breast cancer: The results showed that mRNA and protein expression of Beclin1, Bax and LC3 was significantly lower, while that of mTOR, Bcl-2, 4EBP1 and MMP-9 was higher in BC tissues compared to that in adjacent normal tissues (p < 0.05) (Fig. 4A, B), suggesting decreased cell apoptosis and autophagy and activated mTOR signaling pathway in BC tissues.