<i>A model</i> of action of TIMP-1 during tumor progression

<p>: Increased expression of TIMP-1 by tumor cells and CAFs leads to increased CAF proliferation and migration through binding of TIMP-1 to the TIMP-1 receptor, CD63 expressed on CAFs, which leads to accumulation of CAFs within cancer tissues. These CAFs in turn provide a pro-tumor microenvironment to facilitate the cancer progression by secreting pro-tumor growth factors/cytokines, modulating tumor angiogenesis, and regulating infiltration and expansion of inflammatory cells.