These tumor-derived extracellular vesicles were found to express molecular markers that were generally linked with tumor plasma membranes, including placental type alkaline phosphatase and mdr-1 (Taylor et al., 1985, 1989; Taylor and Black, 1986); however, proteins not generally associated with plasma membranes, such as p53, GRP78 and nucleophosmin, were also identified with these circulating vesicles (Chinni et al., 1997; Manahan et al., 2001). The gene discussed is HSPA5; the disease is neoplasm.