MMP9 and breast cancer: There is also a reduction in the expression and activity of MMP-2 and MMP-9 in breast cancer cells, MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231, upon treatment of 1,25(OH)2D. The expression of TIMP-1/2—natural inhibitors of MMPs—in these cell lines was upregulated, while a decrease in VEGF which regulates the expression of MMP-9 was also observed [117,118].