Univariate analysis (Table 1) showed that patients affected by one of the following characteristics had a shorter survival in comparison with the opposite status of each variable: performance status equal to or worse than 2, tumour status of T3–T4, positive nodal status (N1–N3), presence of metastases, stage grouping of III or IV, high serum alkaline phosphatase level, leucocyte count of 10 000 or higher, serum NSE level higher than 12.5 ng ml−1 and serum CYFRA 21-1 level higher than 3.6 ng ml−1. This evidence concerns the gene ENO2 and neoplasm.