It is important to note that the original discovery of autoantibodies to ZNF346, ZNF638, ZNF700 and ZNF768 in our previous colorectal cancer study was performed in a sex and age matched case-control cohort with median age of 62 for CRC and 61 for controls, thereby excluding autoantibodies specific to age-related illnesses. This evidence concerns the gene ZNF346 and colorectal carcinoma.