By activating various signaling pathways, i.e., phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT and MAPK/ERK, VEGF plays role in the chemotaxis and migration of cancer cells, and also stimulates the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6) and proteolytic enzymes (matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9)) [131] (Figure 3). The gene discussed is MMP9; the disease is cancer.