The supplementation of CMCAFs-shTSP-4 with rh-TSP-4 could reverse the effects of TSP-4 depletion in CAFs induced the decreased the EMT and cancer stem-like characteristics of GBC cells, as determined by invasion, tumorsphere-formation, western blot and ALDH activity assays (Fig. 2a-d and Additional file 4: Fig. S1E-S1F). Here, LDHA is linked to cancer.