Elevated serum HSP90α levels and tumor TCF12 mRNA overexpression in CRC patients. The serum levels of HSP90α and the tumor status of TCF12 mRNA expression were investigated in 60 CRC patients, including 32 cases with metastasis and 28 cases without metastasis. A, a higher average serum HSP90α level was detected in patients with metastasis compared with patients without metastasis (333.2 ± 157.0 versus 263.0 ± 124.3 μg/ml, p = 0.058). B, tumor TCF12 mRNA overexpression was detected in a higher proportion of patients with metastasis than without metastasis (24/32 versus 10/28, p = 0.002). C, a higher average serum HSP90α level was measured in patients with tumor TCF12 mRNA overexpression compared with patients without TCF12 mRNA overexpression in their tumor tissues (348.5 ± 167.1 versus 237.5 ± 78.2 μg/ml, p = 0.001).