A significant overlap was detected with several relevant gene families, including colon cancer progression (e.g., FN1, IGBP3, PLAUR and TIMP1; P=0.00052), tumour cell apoptosis (e.g., BID, TNFRSF21, PHLDA1 and NOTCH1; P=1.46 × 10–6) and cell proliferation (e.g., CTGF, SPP1, FOLR1 and SPARC). Here, SPARC is linked to colonic neoplasm.