Analyzing subgroups in 62 DGC patients, GDF15 correlated with tumor invasion (Fig. 4B) and was significantly higher in lymph node metastasis positive patients (N0, 885 ± 354 pg mL−1 vs. N1−3, 1,415 ± 635 pg mL−1) (Fig. 4C). Here, GDF15 is linked to neoplasm.