MMP2 and cancer: A previous study showed that human adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells acquired CAF-like characteristics after interaction with cancer cells when co-cultured with cancer cells (22), and the expression levels of a series of markers, such as α-SMA, porin, c-MYC, fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1), IL-6, IL-8, matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP2), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and tenascin-C, were significantly increased (22, 27–29).