The levels of CEA and CA199 were significantly higher in CRC patients versus the controls (Additional file 1: Fig. S1, log2-transformed median, 2.08 versus 0.77, 3.16 versus 2.68; Wilcoxon rank sum test, p < 0.001, p = 0.002, respectively). The gene discussed is CEACAM5; the disease is colorectal carcinoma.