To this end, cancer cells that were identified to secrete increased levels of the aforementioned soluble factors were allowed to grow as either monocultures or were co-cultured with MRC5 fibroblasts or the corresponding TAFs for 5 days in the presence of inhibitory antibodies against EGFR (Erbitux), mAb cMet (monoclonal antibody cMet), mAb IL6, mAb IGF1R (R1507). This evidence concerns the gene IL6 and cancer.