Together, our results define SMYD3 as an important new regulator of MMP-9 transcription, and they provide a molecular link between SMYD3 overexpression and metastatic cancer progression.Keywords: epigenetic, metastasis, chromatin, SMYD3, MMP-9INTRODUCTIONCancer progression is a multi-step process resulting from altered gene expression through genetic and epigenetic mechanisms (1, 2).