Finally, with respect to CRC tissue protein expression levels, the immunohistochemical results from HPA database indicated that protein expression of CSRP2, HSPB1, PPP1R14A, S100A13, TIMP1 and TPM2 was higher in CRC stroma (Fig. 11a–f), while SPINK1 was weakly expressed in interstitial areas (Fig. 11g), and there was no immunohistochemical data for the other 2 genes (CEBPD and CXCL1) in HPA database. Here, TPM2 is linked to colorectal carcinoma.