TIMP1 and breast cancer: As for the STAT3 signaling pathway, it has been shown that CAF-secreted TIMP-1 activated the STAT3 pathway in BC cells, promoting proliferation and migration, and CAF-derived IL-6 can increase extracellular TIMP-1 abundance, suggesting that inhibition of TIMP-1/CD63/integrin β1/STAT3 loop may be a promising therapeutic modality.