MUC5B and cancer: This approach revealed the strongest positive contributors across all three cancer-specific models to be BIRC5, TPX2, CTHRC1, SLC7A5, and MMP7. The convergence of cell-cycle regulator genes (BIRC5, TPX2) with matrix-remodeling and metabolic genes (CTHRC1, SLC7A5, MMP7) underscores the twin biological hallmarks—unchecked proliferation and micro-environmental restructuring—that distinguish high (mG3/mG4) from low (mG1) molecular grades.