A DEG analysis between these distinct MC38 cancer cell populations in vivo showed that cells more similar to SIS ECM MatriSpheres upregulated histone genes (Hist2h2ac, Hist1h1a, Hist1h1b, Hist1h1e, Hist1h4d, Hist1h2ae) and proto-oncogene, Mybl2, and downregulated ECM protein and remodeling genes (Col3a1, Col1a1, Mmp2). Here, COL1A1 is linked to cancer.