Moreover, in cancer for example, when ANG2 is abundant, it binds to TIE2 and maintains TIE2 phosphorylation in an autocrine way, upregulates the expression of M2-type associated genes such as IL-10, Mannose Receptor C-Type 1 (MRC1) and CCL17 and pro-angiogenic genes such as thymidine phosphorylase (TP) and cathepsin B (CTSB) (209). Here, TEK is linked to cancer.