A total of 394 patients with primary CRC, who underwent radical operation between 2013 and 2015 at Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute (Shenyang, Liaoning Province, People’s Republic of China) were included in this study. All patients were at stages I, II, or III according to the Union for International Cancer Control TNM classification system. Patients who died perioperatively or with secondary malignancy and those with distant metastases such as liver or lung before the operation were excluded. Histology specimens were evaluated by two senior pathologists, and the diagnosis of CRC with or without NED was confirmed in all patients. This study was approved by the local ethics committee of Liaoning Cancer Hospital and Institute.
Free full text: Click here