MMP9 and hepatocellular carcinoma: (46) demonstrated that inhibition of DDR1 expression or activity suppressed HCC cell adhesion and migration to the ECM in a manner dependent on intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM1) and inhibited HCC cell proliferation, MMP9-dependent degradation of the ECM and the phosphorylation of Akt and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), which are two pro-survival molecules for tumour cell growth.