Bulk RNA-seq transcriptomic analysis revealed upregulation in HFC tumour regions of genes that are involved in the assembly of neural circuits, including axon pathfinding genes (NTNG1, also known as netrin G1), synapse-associated genes (for example, SYNPO, also known as synaptopodin) and synaptogenic factors including a sevenfold upregulation of thrombospondin-1 (THBS1, encoding TSP-1). Here, THBS1 is linked to neoplasm.