Heatmap analysis revealed that these five genes were overexpressed in metastatic samples (Additional file 3: Fig. S2G), while three (ADAMTS13, CD14 and HMOX1) were up-regulated and two (CXCL2, and HPN) were down-regulated in CRC cells by CRLM1-OE (Additional file 3: Fig. S2H). Here, CXCL2 is linked to colorectal carcinoma.