VarElect analysis of the 130 common genes identified the two genes with the highest connectivity in the PPI network as IL-1β (score = 17.72) and MMP9 (score = 13.45), indicating that these two genes are most closely associated with CRC (Additional file 11: Table S8; Additional file 12: Figure S4). The gene discussed is MMP9; the disease is colorectal carcinoma.