Zhu L, et al. - Researchers determined how matrix metalloproteinase-7 (MMP-7) functions in cervical cancer cells. In addition, in both tissues and serum from cervical cancer patients, they assessed its clinical significance. Cervical cancer tissues displayed higher mRNA and protein MMP-7 levels than healthy controls. Significantly decreased cervical cancer cell proliferation, migration, and invasion were achieved via silencing MMP-7, suggesting that MMP-7 have an oncogenic role in cervical cancer cells and is involved in those functions. MMP-7 expression was correlated with pathological grade, clinical stage, and lymph metastasis. The data, thereby, yield evidence supporting the potential of MMP-7 as a clinically relevant biomarker for cervical cancer.