Figure 2D reveals that, relative to control mice, α-SMA mRNA abundance increases in the colitis-associated adenocarcinoma and decreases in the sporadic. The FAP mRNA levels increased in both types of adenocarcinomas, with a significantly higher increase in the sporadic adenocarcinoma. Since decreased α-SMA expression and increased FAP are associated with the most aggressive cell phenotype [30], the current observations suggest that sporadic adenocarcinoma is more aggressive than the one associated with colitis. Here, ACTA1 is linked to colitis.