Although the functions of most of the MMPs are not well elucidated yet, MT1-MMP is the most well-characterized MMP in the aspect of its role in the invasion and metastasis of cancer cells, and even its non-proteolytic involvement in the indirect enhancement of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1A) activity and the regulation of its endosomal trafficking. This evidence concerns the gene HIF1A and cancer.