Update publication information. Colorectal cancer often develops slowly from adenoma. In this study, we aimed to identify the oncogenes involved in the progression of colorectal adenoma to carcinoma by Tandem Mass Tag (TMT)-based quantitative proteomics. Protein expression changes were compared by TMT-based quantitative mass spectrometry in seven paired samples of normal mucosa, adenoma and carcinoma. Moreover, a bioinformatics analysis of differential protein expression was performed to screen for oncogenes. Effects of oncogene knockdown on cell viability, proliferation, migration and invasion were analyzed in colorectal cancer cell lines. Effects of oncogene overexpression on cell viability and proliferation were analyzed in adenoma organoids. The protein UTP18 was consistently upregulated in the normal-adenoma-carcinoma sequence. UTP18 downregulation was shown to inhibit colorectal cancer cell viability, proliferation, migration and invasion. UTP18 overexpression promoted adenoma organoid viability and proliferation. UTP18 facilitated the expression of MYC and impaired expression of the tumor-suppressor p21. Our data revealed the importance of UTP18 as an effector in the progression of adenoma to carcinoma. Thus, UTP18 is implicated as a highly specific biomarker for early diagnosis of progressive adenomas.