In several cancers, SPDL1 expression was found to be significantly correlated with the pathological stages by the “Pathological Stage Plot” module of GEPIA2 in ACC, KICH, KIRP, LIHC, LUAD, SKCM (P < .05) (Fig. 1D), but not in others (Additional file 2: Fig. S4B). Here, SPDL1 is linked to cancer.