Also, knockdown of maba-1 on an mRNA level and an antibody inhibits progression of cancer, e.g., the proliferation of HCT116 colon cancer cells (EPO Global Dossier US 64783309), and thus, pointing to a role of maba-1 in remodeling an epithelial cell into a cell capable of being invasive and migratory. Here, EPO is linked to colonic neoplasm.