TNC is an extracellular matrix protein of stem cell niches that promotes the survival and outgrowth of pulmonary micrometastases via upregulation of stem cell signaling components, musashi homolog 1 (MSI1), and leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptor 5 (LGR5) until the tumor stroma takes over as a source of TNC [78]. The gene discussed is LGR5; the disease is neoplasm.