These data provide the first comprehensive and quantitative analysis of the expression and localisation of MMPs and their inhibitors in human prostate cancer, leading to the identification of several genes involved in proteolysis as potential prognostic indicators, in particular hepsin, MTSP1, MMP26, PAI1, uPAR, MMP15, TIMP3, TIMP4, maspin and RECK. This evidence concerns the gene TIMP3 and Familial prostate cancer.