Clinical and Prognostic Value of TIMP1 in Colorectal Cancer

Abstract

Tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases 1 (TIMP1) is a multifunctional molecule that acts as the primary endogenous inhibitors of metalloproteinases (MPs). The imbalance between MMPs and TIMPs can lead to various cancers. We aim to prove the clinical and prognostic value of TIMP1 gene in colorectal cancer (CRC). Materials and Methods: TIMP1 mRNA expression was examined in various cancer types. We further evaluated survival to determine the prognostic significance of TIMP1 mRNA in CRC using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data. Results: The patients were divided into two subgroups, based on the TIMP1 gene expression levels to assess the clinical characteristics associated with TIMP1 expression. In rectal cancer, higher TIMP1 expression was linked to venous invasion, and there was also a correlated with histological type, location, and MSI types in colon cancer. Survival analysis showed that higher TIMP1 group was statistically associated with poorer prognosis. Our findings suggest that elevated TIMP1 mRNA expression is significantly associated with aggressive clinicopathological features and poor prognosis in CRC. TIMP1 may serve as a potential biomarker for risk stratification and a therapeutic target in CRC management.