RUNX2 and neoplasm: RUNX2 induces the expression of various genes involved in tumor progression, including VEGF, MMP9, OPN, SNAI 1 and 2, TWIST1 and TIMP13 [29,30], and activates signaling pathways such as mTORC2, PTEN/PI3K/AKT and NF-κB [30,31,32].