NDRG1 and neoplasm: In addition, 16 proteins that are not directly associated with downstream of PI3K/Akt or MEK/ERK signaling pathways were altered toward tumor suppressive direction, including proteins related with apoptosis (Bax, caspase 7), cell cycle (CDK1, Chk1, stathmin), fatty acid metabolism (SCD1), gene transcription (Smad, STAT5a, TTF1), glucose metabolism (G6PD, GAPDH), histone methylation (SETD2), iron transport (TFRC), stress response (NDRG1), or tyrosine kinase (c-Met, Lck) (Additional file 5).