MMP9 and breast neoplasm: For example, aberrant STAT3 signaling promotes breast tumor progression through deregulation of the expression of downstream target genes, which control proliferation (Bcl-2, Bcl-xL, survivin, cyclin D1, c-Myc, and Mcl-1), angiogenesis (Hif1α and VEGF), and EMT (vimentin, Twist, MMP-9, and MMP-7) (Banerjee et al, 2016).