Numerous proteins and transcripts relevant to CRC emerged as differentially altered including downregulated Serpin family members such as SERPINF2 (ref. 35) and SERPINA1 (refs. 35,36) (although these molecules are upregulated in adenomas and cancer relative to mucosa), upregulated NOTUM (ref. 37) and upregulated S100A8 (refs. 38,39). Here, SERPINA1 is linked to colorectal carcinoma.