Invadopodia are dynamic protrusions that harbor matrix metalloproteinases for pericellular matrix degradation. However, the mechanisms underlying their maturation are poorly understood. Pedersen et al. (2020. J. Cell Biol.https://doi.org/10.1083/jcb.202003063) demonstrate a dual role of Protrudin in invadopodia elongation and matrix degradation, central to cell invasion and cancer metastasis.