The analysis of the RT-qPCR data using Mann–Whitney U test demonstrated median expression levels of DDIT4 (P = 0.007), TPTEP1 (P = 0.035) and miR-181d-5p (P = 0.020) were significantly higher in CRC tissues compared to the adjacent normal tissues (Table 3) (frame A, C and D of Fig. 6, respectively). Here, TPTEP1 is linked to colorectal carcinoma.