RBP4 and cancer: Downregulation of RBP4 in CRC patients versus healthy individuals in serum and tumor tissue was previously reported.51 Other adipokines with antitumorigenic effects such as adiponectin (APOD) was also reduced in cancer patients and RBP4 may play a role in the reduction of inflammation.52 A lower level of APOD, a protein associated with cancer-associated inflammation, was also observed in our cohort.