PDPN and neoplasm: Besides widely mentioned mesenchymal biomarkers such as VIM, αSMA, fibroblast activation protein (FAP), podoplanin (PDPN), integrin beta-1 (ITGB1, also known as CD29), FSP-1 (S100A4), and platelet-derived growth factor alfa (PDGFR-α), PDGFR-β [7,25], the role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), through which CAFs can facilitate tumor growth, invasion, and metastasis has also been evaluated [49].