This confirmed that tumor cells secrete factors that induce mRNA-expression of EIF2AK3, DDIT3, HSPA5 (Figure 4A), spliced XBP1 (Figure 4B,C and D), and HSPA5 (Figure 4C), as well as protein expression of p-IRE1α (Figure 4F) in hepatic stellate cells co-cultured with tumor cells, indicating the presence of ER-stress. Here, DDIT3 is linked to neoplasm.