MMP9 and neoplasm: After inhibition of tumor cell ferroptosis with ferroptosis inhibitors Ferrostatin-1 (Fer-1), western-blot analysis and transwell assays revealed increased metastatic potential of colorectal cancer cells, and the expression of EMT-related proteins was distinctly altered, with N-cadherin, Vimentin, Snail, MMP2 and MMP9 upregulated and E-cadherin downregulated (Figures 5B,C).