Analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from 37 patients with CRC and 12 age- and sex-matched HCs. (A) The frequency of blood MCps was analysed by flow cytometry. MCps were identified as CD4−CD8−CD19−CD14−CD34hiCD117+FcεRI+ cells. The percentage indicates the frequency of MCps in the CD45+ cell population. (B) The frequency of CD45+ cells in patients with CRC and HCs. (C) The frequency of MCps in the CD45+ cell population in patients with CRC and HCs. In the CRC patient group, the frequency of MCps in the CD45+ cell population was compared based on (D) sex, age and tumour location and (E) early- and advanced-stage CRC. The horizontal line represents the mean of the data. CRC, colorectal cancer; HC, healthy control; MCps, mast cell progenitors; n.s, no significance; SSC, side scatter.