For each stage (I, II, III, and IV), the plasma levels of PS+ platelets [(100 ± 26) × 108/L, (109 ± 27) × 108/L, (204 ± 48) × 108/L and (310 ± 51) × 108/L, respectively] were significantly (P <0.001) higher in colon cancer patients than in HS [(25 ± 8) × 108/L] (Fig. 1c). The gene discussed is PRB2; the disease is malignant colon neoplasm.