TIMP1 and cancer: Initially, MMP was considered to be involved in the beginning of metastasis due to the disintegration of the physical barrier corresponding to ECM and basement membrane collagen; TIMPs can inhibit tumor invasion and metastasis by inhibiting the proteolytic activity of MMPs [20, 21]; However, several studies have shown that TIMP-1 is a multifunctional protein with the effect in progression and metastasis of carcinoma and the destruction of the balance between MMPs and TIMPs is related to the progression of cancer [22].