Their close association with the UPP1high tumor cells suggested a potential immunosuppressive niche, which might be conducive to tumor survival and evasion from immune surveillance; Similarly, the observed proximity of these cells to MMP11+ fibroblasts suggested a dynamic interplay, with fibroblasts expressing high-level MMP11 playing a pivotal role in extracellular matrix degradation58; The association of UPP1high tumor cells with SPP1+ macrophages further added to the complexity of the TME. Here, MMP11 is linked to neoplasm.