Biomarker candidates subjected to multivariate analysis using the stepwise variable selection method.

The 7 metabolites subjected to multivariate analysis using the stepwise variable selection method are listed in Table 3. Among these metabolites, arabinose, meso-erythritol, and lactitol are excluded, because they are frequently consumed in the diet. The concentration of each metabolite in the colorectal cancer patients with stage 0–4, stage 0–2, or stage 3–4 disease at the training set was compared with that detected in the healthy volunteers, and the fold induction was calculated. P values were evaluated using the Mann-Whitney U test, and p values of less than 0.05 were considered to indicate a significant difference.