ITGBL1-activated fibroblasts in distal organs facilitate metastatic tumor growth through several mechanisms: (1) activated fibroblasts serve as feeder cells; (2) activated fibroblasts release tumor growth-promoting factors and cytokines; (3) activated fibroblasts produce matrix proteins to support tumor growth; (4) activated fibroblasts produce proteases necessary for tumor mass expansion; and (5) activated fibroblasts communicated with other stromal cells, such as inflammatory cells to induce tumor growth. This evidence concerns the gene ITGBL1 and neoplasm.