AQP3 and colonic neoplasm: It has been recently found that the combined detection of serum Gal-3, Aquaporin-1 (AQP-1) and -3 (AQP-3) (integral membrane proteins that serve as passive channels for water) has potential value for the diagnosis of young patients with colon cancer [65].Specifically, in young patients with colon cancer, pre- and postoperative Gal-3, AQP-1 and AQP-3 serum concentrations were found to be significantly increased, thus demonstrating their importance in evaluating long-term prognosis [66].