Moreover, increased GDF-15 expression levels were markedly associated with unfavorable overall survival (OS) in patients with DST (HR = 2.34, 95% CI: 2.03–2.70, P < 0.001; I2 = 0.0%) and colorectal cancer (CRC) (HR = 2.27, 95% CI: 1.96–2.63, P < 0.001; I2 = 0.0%). The gene discussed is GDF15; the disease is colorectal cancer.