Our results showed that NSCLC EVs can disrupt the integrity of an epithelial barrier, and adherens (E-cadherin) and tight junction (ZO-1) proteins involved in barrier integrity are downregulated, indicating that EVs may play an important role in loss of tight junction proteins (such as Claudin-1) that correlates with poor survival of lung adenocarcinoma patients38. The gene discussed is CLDN1; the disease is lung adenocarcinoma.