Each cell type was influenced and phenotypically altered by the triple co-culture conditions, as evidenced by enhanced phenotypic maturation markers such as COL1A1, COL3A1 and FN1 in fibrocytes (Fig. 8B); enhanced pro-proliferative and pro-migratory markers such as Cyclin D1, MMP2, MMP9 and Vimentin in cancer cells (Fig. 8C) and enhanced M2-like differentiation markers such as CD206 and ALOX15 and decreased M1-like differentiation markers such as TNF and IL12B in macrophages (Fig. 8D). The gene discussed is MMP9; the disease is cancer.