In line with the expression of vascularization-related markers (Fig. 5g, h), we noticed the emergence of robust tubular-like structures when cancer cells were exposed to SPINK+ CM on a calcein-incorporated basement membrane matrix, suggesting that SPINK1 significantly enhanced cancer cell capacity in forming a capillary tube network (Fig. 5k; Supplementary Fig. 5j–k). The gene discussed is SPINK1; the disease is cancer.