This observation aligns with previous studies demonstrating the role of CAFs in promoting EMT, such as in co-culture models of PC-3 human prostate carcinoma cells, where CAF-mediated the secretion of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) such as MMP1, MMP2, MMP7, MMP9, and MMP11 drives EMT induction118 (Fig. 2D). The gene discussed is MMP2; the disease is prostate carcinoma.