APOA4 and metabolic syndrome: Another enriched pathway in CRC patients was cholesterol metabolism, with 2 downregulated apolipoproteins APOA2 and APOA4, that were previously reported.38 It was found that APOA2 polymorphisms were associated with CRC prognosis and might play a relevant role in disease development and progression.39 These proteins were also related to metabolic syndrome which is a well-established CRC risk factor.40