As a result, there was a significant increase in both mRNA OPN and CXCL8 in tumor tissues compared to the normal mucosa (P < 0.0001), and they found a prominent linear correlation between OPN and CXCL8 mRNA expressions in tumor tissues, indicating that there was a synergistic role between CXCL8 and OPN in regulating the development of colorectal cancer. The gene discussed is SPP1; the disease is colorectal cancer.