The invention discloses identification and therapeutic use of matrix metalloproteinase oligopeptides and peptidomimetics. The oligopeptides are used for making antibodies. The antibodies are used for diagnostic and treatment purposes of various diseases. In particular, the diseases may involve the mechanism of degradation of extracellular matrix by MMP's during cell proliferation cycle. Suppression of MMP activity seems to arrest tumor growth during cancer progression. MMP oligopeptides were used as vaccines to treat mice having murine melanoma B16FO induced tumor. There was a significant drop in tumor weight and size for the group of mice that were immunized with MMP oligopeptide.
