CD9 and colorectal carcinoma: Moreover, CRC TANKs, apart from exhibiting a decidual-like CD56+CD9+CD49a- phenotype, can release large amount of pro-angiogenic factors including VEGF, Angiogenin, Angiopoietin-1, CXCL8, MMP1, MMP9, TIMP-1, and support angiogenesis in vitro [22].