Update publication information. To comprehensively reveal molecular characterization of advanced CRC, we applied integrated proteomic and metabolomic analyses on serum samples from 20 patients with CRC at stage III or IV. Methods In the present study, we took advantage of nanoscale liquid chromatography and quadrupole time-of-flight tandem mass spectrometry (nanoLC/Q-TOF-MS/MS) and ultraperformance LC/Q-TOF-MS/MS technologies.