Although the proportion of BE5 cells in epithelial cells in BPH tissues did not show a significant difference compared to that in normal tissues (Wilcoxon test, p value > 0.05; Additional file 1: Fig. S3B, C), a higher number of FOS+ BE5 cells were observed in BPH tissues than in normal prostate tissues (chi-square test, p value < 0.0001; Fig. 4A). This evidence concerns the gene FOS and benign prostatic hyperplasia.