MMP2 and hepatocellular carcinoma: In HCC, CD276 affects the activation of the PI3K/AKT/MMPs pathway, as the downregulation of CD276 inhibits the expression of MMP2, MMP14, and the activation of MMP2, as well as the phosphorylation of AKT, which promotes HCC growth, invasion, and migration, involved in vasculogenic mimicry formation [71].