CHI3L1 and malignant colon neoplasm: Real time PCR and zymographic analysis on visceral adipose tissue (VAT) biopsies from 11 colon cancer patients revealed increased levels of NGAL and other inflammation associated factors like osteopontin, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), and chitinase-3 like-1 compared to control subjects, suggesting their involvement in cancer development and progression [43].