In general, pro-uPA binds to uPA receptor (uPAR) for a proteolytic conversion to uPA by the cell-surface plasmin.58 In comparison with uPAR, the plasminogen receptors are miscellaneous in various cell types;59 Among them, cell-surface Cytokeratin 8 and 18 (CK8/18) have been identified to be a plasminogen receptor in cancer.60 Our data revealed that CK8/18 physically interacted with plasminogen and HAI-2 in NSCLC (Supplementary Figure S17A~S17C), and co-localised at the cell surface (Supplementary Figure S17D). This evidence concerns the gene SPINT2 and cancer.