A significant increase in PAI-1 expression scores was observed in lymph node metastasis-positive CRCs (2.19±0.43) compared to negative ones (0.35±0.42) (P=0.0037) as well as in distant metastasis-positive CRCs (3.50±1.18) compared to negative ones (0.99±0.30). This evidence concerns the gene SERPINE1 and metastatic malignant neoplasm in the lymph nodes.