The observed mechanisms underlying this anti-cancer effect of triptolide included downregulation of receptors (CXCR4), kinases (p-ERK, FAK, p-Akt, p-JNK), adapter proteins and other protein regulators (GRB2, SOS1, Rho A, ROCK-1), transcription factors (NF-κB), and effector proteins (MMP-9, MMP-2) that are involved in the promotion of cell migration and invasion [120]. Here, MMP9 is linked to cancer.