As shown in Figure 5 (lower panel), the expression of the ECM components ECM2, encoding for an ECM protein predominantly expressed in AT, and SPARC, a key regulator of collagen-mediated signaling, were up-regulated in Ob subjects, COL4A2 in both Ob and ObCRC conditions, while another collagen family member, COL6A3, and the collagen-dependent receptor tyrosine kinase DDR1, mediating cell adhesion to collagen, were specifically down- and up-modulated, respectively, in CRC-affected obese subjects. The gene discussed is SPARC; the disease is colorectal carcinoma.