MAL2 cytoplasmic and membrane staining intensities were significantly positively correlated in the tumour cohort (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient, rs = 0.736, p < 0.001, n = 207), and both were significantly positively correlated with measured SPCs in tumour cores (rs = 0.599, p < 0.001, n = 211 for cytoplasmic staining; rs = 0.592, p < 0.001, n = 197 for membrane staining). Here, MAL2 is linked to neoplasm.