Furthermore, we found that this direct interaction in the co-cultures stimulated the cells to enhance the promotion of metastatic adhesion molecules (β1-integrin, ICAM-1), proliferative proteins (cyclin D1, Ki-67), TGF-β3, p-Smad2 and vimentin, suggesting a dynamic interaction between the two cell types in the tumor microenvironment. The gene discussed is MKI67; the disease is neoplasm.