Significantly these 25 proteins included CEACAM6, MUC5/MUC5AC, POLD2, IGFBP3, SPRR3, MCPIP1, BLMH; proteins associated with tumour progression/proliferation (SPRR3 [25]), dedifferentiation (POLD2 [26]), cell microenvironment/hypoxia (IGFBP3 [27]) and patient survival (MCPIP1 [28]); and represent those proteins most changed due to the differing properties of early and late passage tumourspheres. The gene discussed is MUC5B; the disease is neoplasm.