The RNAscope for THBS1 transcript and co-immunofluorescence of THBS1 with epithelial marker EPCAM confirmed the localization of THBS1 in the stroma, which was supported by transcriptomic analysis showing higher THBS1 expression in the tumor stroma (Fig. 1b, c and Supplementary Fig. 1a). This evidence concerns the gene EPCAM and neoplasm.