['Adhesion to extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and degradation of basement membranes by matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) play important roles in cancer metastasis. In this study, the effects of gefitinib on the enzymatic activity of MMP and adhesion to ECM proteins in the HT29 colon cancer cell line were investigated.', 'Microtiter plates, coated with ECM proteins, were used to investigate the adhesion of cancer cells to ECM proteins. The expression of MMPs was examined by zymography and semiquantitative RT-PCR.', 'Gefitinib inhibited MMP-9 and MMP-2 secretion and mRNA expression in HT29 cells. Gefitinib also reduced the ability to adhere to laminin and type IV collagen. These effects were observed at such low doses that gefitinib had neither an antiproliferative effect nor the ability to induce apoptosis.'] Does gefitinib decrease the synthesis of matrix metalloproteinase and the adhesion to extracellular matrix proteins of colon cancer cells?