Findings were validated by immunohistochemistry, western blotting, and transwell assays in colorectal and gastric cancer models, with additional analysis performed in atherosclerosis cohort (GSE100927) and heart failing cohort (GSE5406) to explore cardiovascular relevance.<h4>Results</h4>TIMP1 was consistently upregulated across cancers, especially in colorectal and gastric tumors, where it correlated with adverse survival and high diagnostic accuracy. This evidence concerns the gene TIMP1 and atherosclerosis.