We found that meta-program 7 included genes of extracellular matrix receptor proteins, such as integrin superfamily members including ITGB6 and ITGA2, as well as CD44 and TNC (Supplementary Table 2), indicating that it might influence tumor progression by mediating signaling of immune modulators and regulating bindings and adhesion to collagen fibers (30, 31). This evidence concerns the gene CD44 and neoplasm.