Our results revealed that the AUC value of miR-185-5p for the diagnosis of III-IV stage CRC was 0.803 (Fig. 4D), which was similar to that of CA199 (0.703, P = 0.2066, Fig. 4E) and CEA (0.861, P = 0.5290, Fig. 4F). The gene discussed is CEACAM5; the disease is colorectal carcinoma.