CHI3L1 and cancer: Increased expression of Chi3L1 protein and mRNA have been shown in various disease models and states including rheumatoid arthritis schizophrenics, inflammatory bowel disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, diabetes, and atherosclerosis [13–19], Especially, Chi3L1 expression has been found in a variety of cancer cells such as breast, lung, prostate, colon, rectum, ovary, kidney, breast, glioblastomas, and malignant melanoma [20–26].