SPINK1 and colorectal carcinoma: Therefore, our study provides strong rationale for using SPINK1 as a potential therapeutic target, whereby using SPINK1-neutralizing monoclonal antibodies or siRNA-mediated SPINK1 silencing would abrogate SPINK1-mediated oncogenic effects in CRC, and concurrently upregulate the expression of tumor suppressor MTs in SPINK1-positive CRC patients.