Among the DEPs involved in the IL17, Th17 cell differentiation and JAK-STAT signaling pathways, elevated levels of CSF3 and reduced CXCL6 were previously found in the serum of CRC patients (27, 33), while our study also demonstrates their association with cancer-associated inflammation (Figures 2A–C). Here, CXCL6 is linked to colorectal carcinoma.