AOC3 and colorectal carcinoma: We identified 15 survival-associated DEGs—MELK, NFE2L3, MCM2, MAD2L1, AUNIP, CXCL3, GLDN, GREM2, ALDH1A1, CILP, FABP4, AOC3, CNN1, ANGPTL1, and DES—as potential early diagnostic biomarkers for CRC.