MUC5B and cancer: Cancer cell subcluster 3 and cancer cell subcluster 4 were found to be typical malignant epithelial CRC cells, as they specifically expressed OLFM4, CXCL5 and FABP1. Cancer cell subcluster 4 showed a strong anti-inflammatory activation state and expressed high levels of immunomodulatory factors including PPBP, CCL20, and IGLC3. Cancer cell subcluster 5 specifically expressed the oncogene CTTN and the secreted mucin genes MUC5AC and MUC5B. Cancer cell subcluster 6 specifically expressed LCP1 and FN1, which have been reported to be diagnostic and prognostic markers for CRC23,24.