Activin (+) AOIs in the stromal compartment of stage III CRC samples also displayed significantly increased expression of CD25 (1.96 ± 0.51 normalized counts, n = 10) and FOXP3 (1.50 ± 0.51 normalized counts, n = 10) (Fig. 4C) when compared to activin (-) AOIs in the same compartment (CD25: 0.61 ± 0.16 normalized counts, n = 11 ; FOXP3: 0.43 ± 0.10 normalized counts, n = 11). This evidence concerns the gene INHBE and colorectal carcinoma.