TIMP1 and neoplasm: Infact, it is now known that in addition to their production by epithelial tumour cells, MMP and/or TIMP gene expression may be induced in stromal fibroblasts and/or in vascular and inflammatory cells that infiltrate tumours around them (Visscher et al, 1994; Nielsen et al, 2001; Nakopoulou et al, 2002b; De Wever and Mareel, 2003).