Fig 2: Serum ELISA results of S100A9 and ANXA3 in CRC patients and healthy controlsA. Serum level of S100A9 in CRC was significantly higher than healthy controls (115.68±67.76 vs 74.84±42.11ng/mL, p<0.0001). B. Serum level of ANXA3 in CRC was significantly higher than healthy controls (0.71±0.41 vs 0.36±0.35ng/mL, p<0.0001). C. ROC curve of ANXA3 for CRC diagnosis (AUC=0.769, 95% CI=0.698-0.840, p<0.0001). D. ROC curve of S100A9 for CRC diagnosis (AUC=0.690, 95% CI=0.613-0.767, p<0.0001). E. ROC curve of ANXA3 combined with S100A9 for CRC diagnosis (AUC=0.788, 95% CI=0.720-0.857, p<0.0001). Abbreviations: ELISA, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay; S100A9, S100 calcium-binding protein A9; ANXA3, annexin A3; CRC, colorectal cancer; ROC, receiver operator characteristic; AUC, area under curve; CI, confidence interval.

Fig 3: Serial serum concentrations of S100A9 and TNC. (A) Serum S100A9 levels before surgery, after surgery and during relapse in CRC patients (n=21). (B) Serum TNC levels before surgery, after surgery and during relapse in CRC patients (n=21).

Fig 4: Immunohistochemistry images of S100A9, ANXA3, NAMPT, CES2 and CLCA1

Fig 5: ROC curve analysis of serum concentrations from patients with CRC and controls. (A) ROC curves of S100A9, TNC, CEA and CA19-9 levels as screening biomarkers of CRC. (B) ROC curves of S100A9, TNC, CEA and CA19-9 levels as biomarkers differentiating between CRC and BCD. (C) The AUC performance of the following combinations of serum concentrations: S100A9 and TNC; CEA and CA19-9; and S100A9, TNC and CEA.