Previous studies have demonstrated downregulation of ERK1/2 phosphorylation in colon tumorigenesis in adenomas and early phase adenocarcinomas [19,20,21], with a subsequent increase in ERK5 phosphorylation to maintain the progression of tumorigenesis [22] and the stem cell-like malignant phenotype of cancer cells [23]. This evidence concerns the gene MAPK3 and adenocarcinoma.