Genes that are commonly modulated as a result of OPNc overexpression in both OvCar-3 and PC-3 cells (Bcl2l1, Bad, Fos, Itgav, Itgb3, Vegfa and Serpine1) (Additional files 2 and 3) are presumably required for shared functions related to cancer progression in both tumor models. Here, BCL2L1 is linked to cancer.