In general, CAFs serve as a useful prognostic biomarker in CRC, but it should be noticed that podoplanin, α-SMA or S100A4 expressing CAFs have been shown to be associated with different prognosis in CRC (Choi et al., 2013), which possibly indicate varying prognostic significances conferred by different populations of CAFs. This evidence concerns the gene S100A4 and colorectal carcinoma.