Excessive deposition of COL1 at the level of rectal cancer cell metastasis can activate integrin α2β1/PI3K/AKT/snail signal pathway46 and WNT/PCP pathway,47 thus promoting the metastasis process, and also promoting mesenchymal–epithelial transition (EMT), tumor growth, and increase the stemness of rectal cancer cells. The gene discussed is SNAI1; the disease is rectal cancer.