LLC-challenged IGF1R-deficient mice exhibited unchanged lung mRNA expression of Mmp9, Egfr, Hmox1, Hif1-α, Timp1, Timp2 and Timp3. MMP-9 was reported to promote LLC cell invasiveness and pulmonary metastasis, and was found overexpressed NSCLC patients [26, 27]. Here, MMP9 is linked to non-small cell lung carcinoma.