MMP9 and neoplasm: TAMs display similar functional characteristics as M2 macrophages (6), such as the production of tumor-promoting factors as the angiogenic molecule, VEGF; chemokines such as CCL2 (MCP-1) and CCL22 (MDC); cytokines like IL10, which can suppress Th1 tumor–rejecting immune responses; metalloproteinases like MMP-9, which helps tumor cells to navigate through the extracellular matrix to develop metastases (5); and MFG-E8, which promotes resistance of cancer stem cells to antitumor drugs (7).