TIMP2 and cancer: However, in addition to the MMP inhibitory activities, TIMPs play essential roles in many physiological processes including modulation of cell proliferation, migration, and invasion and synaptic plasticity.[21]TIMPs influence tumor progression and metastasis through the inhibition of MMPs and through direct modulation of angiogenesis and apoptosis.[21,22] Many studies have shown that TIMP2, as a disease susceptibility gene, can affect the development of cancers and other diseases.