MMPs as Regulators of Tumor Microenvironment

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are a family of zinc‐dependent endopeptidases with important functions in development, tissue injury and repair and cancer. In cancer MMPs pave the way for tumor cell invasion and metastasis through extracellular matrix degradation as well as with non‐protelytic functions. Due to their ability to cleave, degrade and rearrange ECM molecules, MMPs can modulate a variety of stem cell niches both normal and in...