TIMP1 and neoplasm: Experimental studies revealed that, while TIMP-1 levels were within normal reference values in healthy donors, they were found to be significantly higher in patients with CRC.6 Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases exhibit complex dual effects on tumor progression, on one hand directly inhibiting MMPs and on the other hand affecting angiogenesis, inhibiting apop-tosis of tumor cells and therefore leading to metastasis of tumor cells.