GJB2 and neoplasm: Certainly, the altered intercellular communication induced by the upregulation of GJB2 in tumor tissues may be reflected not only in the cell-chat between macrophage-epithelial cells through the reinforced SPP1-CD44 axis, thus promoting tumor progression, but also in the altered function of fibroblasts induced by the upregulation of GJB2-associated hub-genes.