Advances in Extracellular Matrix Metalloproteinases: Implications for Renal Cell Carcinoma Pathophysiology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics

Figures

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  Figure 1. Stages of Renal Cell Carcinoma Progression. The image illustrates the four stages of kidney cancer. At Stage 1, the tumor is ≤7 cm in size and confined to the kidney. During Stage 2, the tumor is bigger than 7 cm but still confined to the kidney. Stage 3 is when the tumor has invaded into adjacent prominent veins, such as the vena cava, and may be invading the surrounding tissue, but remains within Gerota’s fascia. In Stage 4, the cancer has expanded outside of Gerota’s fascia into tissues, such as the adrenal gland, and possibly to distant lymph nodes or other areas beyond the solar plexus. Created in BioRender. ANASTASIOU, I. (2025) https://BioRender.com/c00mfbd. accessed on 17 October 2025.

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  Figure 2. A detailed schematic representation of MMPs and the remodeling of the ECM, illustrating their crucial roles in the progression of RCC. This diagram highlights the mechanisms by which MMPs facilitate ECM degradation, thereby contributing to tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis and ultimately influencing the severity and progression of RCC. Created in BioRender. Anastasiou IA. https://BioRender.com/7qowaze, accessed on 9 February 2026. ECM: Extracellular matrix; MMPs: Matrix metalloproteinases; RCC: Renal cell carcinoma.