Using a sandwich ELISA of the same manufacturer, studies have reported median plasma GDF‐15 levels of 309 ng/L (IQR 275‐411) for healthy individuals and 427 ng/L (IQR 344‐626) in obese patients,18 or median levels of 1097 ng/L and 5753 ng/L for healthy and critically ill patients.19 Regarding malignant disease, GDF‐15 levels were determined with a mean value of 746 ng/L in controls vs 1075 ng/L in colorectal cancer patients.20 GDF‐15 levels within this study correspond well to these data. This evidence concerns the gene GDF15 and colorectal cancer.