PTK2 and neoplasm: For instance, tumor cells trigger a sequence of activities, such as the upregulation of integrin α7, the secretion of TGF-β1, the phosphorylation of focal adhesion kinase (FAK)/Src, and the activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 [25], culminating in LOX secretion to catalyze collagen cross-linking and increase matrix stiffness [7].