In particular, expression of DKK3 and PDPN was markedly increased in stroma-proximal regions (Figure 3A, B and C) and both are established markers of cancer-associated fibroblasts implicated in support of tumor growth (Zhou et al., 2018; Hirayama et al., 2018; Shindo et al., 2013). Here, PDPN is linked to neoplasm.