Advances in the research of release and activation of matrix metalloproteinases

Invasion and metastasis are the most important characteristic of malignant tumors,and is the direct reason of the high mortality rate. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in the degradation of the extracellular matrix, a central element of tumor invasion and metastasis, so it is important to discuss the mechanism of MMPs′ release and activation for invasion and metastasis of malignant tumor.