MMP-11
MMP-11 (stromelysin-3) diverges functionally from other stromelysins by showing negligible activity against intact matrix macromolecules; instead it cleaves soluble substrates such as serine protease inhibitors and insulin-like growth factor binding protein-1, indirectly enhancing IGF signaling. First identified as a transcript overexpressed in breast cancer stroma, it is produced mainly by fibroblast-like cells surrounding epithelial tumors and promotes early tumor take and dissemination in mouse models. Stromal MMP-11 expression correlates with poor outcome in breast, lung and colorectal cancer, and the enzyme's role in adipose tissue biology has further linked it to tumor-associated metabolic regulation.
