RUNX1 and colorectal carcinoma: To screen CRC gene expression profiles, we selected two qualified gene expression microarray datasets (TCGA and GSE106582) (Fig. 1b) and determined that RUNX1 was differentially expressed in colorectal tumour tissues compared to its expression in non-neoplastic tissues (p < 0.001) in two independent samples and in paired samples (Fig. 1c).