SPARC and cancer: Closer examination of the gene sets revealed typical (cancer) stem cell markers in cluster 1 (spheres) such as MET, PROM1 (CD133), LGR5, and MYC. The EpCAMhi/lo adherent subpopulations shared gene expression patterns (cluster 5), but differed in the degree of EMT as illustrated by increased ZEB1, SPARC and MMP7 expression in EpCAMlo cluster 2.