Previously, we demonstrated that Tnxb−/− mice bearing aggressive B16-BL6 melanoma cells exhibit promotion of tumor invasion and metastasis due to upregulation of matrix metalloproteinases Mmp2 and Mmp9 followed by enhanced activities of the MMPs (Matsumoto et al., 2001; Matsumoto et al., 2004). Here, TNXB is linked to neoplasm.