Searching for molecular functions of the 51 genes, growth factor activity and cytokines (EREG, GDF15, IGF2, and SPP1), which have important roles in cancer-stromal interaction, and peptidase, and peptidase inhibitor (GGH, MMP7, MMP9, TIMP1, SERPINB5, SERPINE1, and SERPINH1), which are involved in matrix remodeling, were observed in this up-regulated gene list. Here, EREG is linked to cancer.