In the expression-based neoplastic tissue compartment (Fig. 4b) the following genes displayed a highly-significant increase in expression and/or a high fold change: apoptosis related (BCL2L11, ENG, CASP3, BAK, BIK), proliferation related (AURKA, CCND1, PCNA, MYBL2) tumour associated stromal genes (IL1B, FSTL1, TIMP1, CXCL1, COL1A2, S100A4, CD44), energy metabolism markers (HK1, GLS, LDHA, PKM) oxidative stress (SOD1, GPX1, PRDX2), stemness- (CD44), invasion- (ITGAV) angiogenesis- (ENG, MET) associated genes and Oncotype DX genes (INHBA, MYBL2). This evidence concerns the gene CD44 and neoplasm.