AST and Vinblastine (VBL) synergistically act to reduce the expression of key angiogenic and metastatic factors (including VEGF, bFGF, MMP-2, and MMP-9) in VBL-treated colon cancer cells, reducing LoVo cell invasion. The VBL/AST combination results in sustained tumor regression. The gene discussed is MMP9; the disease is colonic neoplasm.