When comparing tumour and normal tissues, we detected significantly increased abundances of SPCs, SecTA, and CycTA in the tumour group, indicating the activation of stem cell properties and inflammatory responses, whereas decreased abundances of AEs, EECs, and BEST4-ECs reflected impaired normal absorption and endocrine functions, revealing significantly different epithelial cell states between the two groups (32, 33) (Figures 3B, E). The gene discussed is BEST4; the disease is neoplasm.