In this respect, it is worth mentioning that both PMA and pervanadate stimulate the shedding of CA IX ECD from the ventral side of cells to their adhesive support, which results in the formation of intense ‘cell traces’ that are very similar to traces formed by the proteolytic release of αVβ3-integrin from the stressed tumour cells (Majda et al, 1994). Here, CA9 is linked to neoplasm.