However, the opposite expression of the basement membrane collagen COL4A6, basement membrane netrin NTN5, VWA5B2, and collagen fibrillogenesis regulator AEBP1 in SqCC compared with adenocarcinoma (Additional file 1: Fig. S1B) points to histological-subtype-specific changes in the core matrisome that may be important in tumor development. Here, COL4A6 is linked to adenocarcinoma.