The inhibitory effect of MEC on cancer growth, invasiveness and angiogenesis has been demonstrated via the expression of a number of tumour suppressor proteins (maspin), ECM structural proteins (fibronectin and collagen), proteinase inhibitors (tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-1, TIMP-1), and angiogenic inhibitors (thrombospondin-1) [77]. The gene discussed is TIMP1; the disease is cancer.