Addition of recombinant SPINK1 in MHCC97L cells promoted tumor-initiating ability (Fig. 5b) and chemoresistance in vitro (Fig. 5d); while conversely, treatment of high-SPINK1 expressing Huh7 cells with a SPINK1 neutralizing antibody31,32 attenuated such events (Fig. 5c, e). This evidence concerns the gene SPINK1 and neoplasm.