As revealed by Spearman correlation analysis, the levels of HSPB1, MMP3, CTNNB1, SFPQ and RNF112 showed a slight positive association with the stemness scores in CRC, and the levels of PAGE4, NOL3 and STK25 were slightly positively related to the stemness scores in CRC (Fig. 7A-H). This evidence concerns the gene MMP3 and colorectal carcinoma.