MMP9 and hepatocellular carcinoma: In HCC and BC, CXCL5 activates the CXCR2/PI3K/Akt/GSK-3β/Snail pathway, driving EMT and metastasis (187), whereas IL-6 induces N2 polarisation via STAT3 signalling, enhancing VEGF/MMP-9 release and angiogenesis (188).