Given the implementation of previous scientific reports, the significant hub nodes within the PPIN, such as COL1A1, COL1A2, COL3A1, COL5A1, COL4A1, COL5A2, FN1, MMP2, ITGA2, SPARC, THBS1, and ITGA5, play a crucial role in promoting cell proliferation, resistance to chemotherapy, invasion, and migration of GC cells, as well as facilitating distant metastasis. The gene discussed is MMP2; the disease is gastric cancer.