COL3A1 and cancer: Functionally, the six fibrogenic genes (COL1A2, COL3A1, COL5A2, ITGA5, ITGAV and ITGB1) were involved in biological pathways associated with transmission of molecular signals to drive the activation of the resident fibroblasts into cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) able to secrete and assembly the collagen fibers (cross-linking), and promote a desmoplastic reaction characterized by increased stiffness of the stroma for invasion and metastasis.