A subset of ECM glycoproteins, such as thrombospondin-2 (THBS2), ECM regulators including lysyl oxidase homolog 2 (LOXL2) or procollagen-lysine,2-oxoglutarate 5-dioxygenase 1 (PLOD1), and affiliated proteins such as MUC13 have been specifically identified in colon cancer samples. The gene discussed is THBS2; the disease is malignant colon neoplasm.