ASB3 and neoplasm: qPCR and Western blotting assays showed that ASB3 mRNA levels were significantly lower in CRC tissues than in paired normal colorectal mucous epitheliums (n = 48, P = 0.016; Fig. 1d) and that ASB3 protein levels were lower in 75.0% (9/12) of tumor tissues than in paired normal epithelial tissues (Fig. 1e).