THBS1 and neoplasm: MECs are referred to as “tumor suppressors.” In addition to forming a physical barrier against the invasion of tumor cells, studies have shown that they strongly express extracellular matrix proteins (collagen, laminin A, fibronectin, osteonectin, etc.), proteins involved in angiogenesis (thrombospondin-1, plasminogen) and protease inhibitors (Polyak and Hu, 2005).