The up-regulation of PCSK9 mRNA in CRC was independently demonstrated in paired tumor and adjacent normal tissues in Hong Kong (N = 150; P < 0.0001) and TCGA COADREAD cohorts (N = 50; P < 0.0001) (Fig. 6F), and in unpaired CRC (N = 624) and adjacent normal tissues (N = 51) from TCGA (P < 0.0001) (Fig. 6F). Here, PCSK9 is linked to neoplasm.