A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that compared to soluble-TIMP1 from total serum, EV-associated TIMP1 was a superior diagnostic marker to distinguish between HD and patients with CRC (Fig. 4C) (EV-associated TIMP1: area under the curve (AUC): 0.709, soluble-TIMP1 from total serum: AUC: 0.61). This evidence concerns the gene TIMP1 and colorectal carcinoma.