Genes up-regulated in cells from tumor specimens grown under CRC culture conditions are enriched with markers for lung basal cells such as TP63 (> 60 fold), podoplanin (PDPN, > 36 fold), cytokeratin genes KRT6A (> 729 fold), KRT6B (> 98 fold), and adhesion molecules LGALS7B (> 200 fold). This evidence concerns the gene PDPN and colorectal carcinoma.