In univariate analysis using log rank test presence of lymph node metastasis (identical to tumour stage: 5-year cancer-related survival rate: N0 or II: 92.1% vs. N+ or III: 79.5%, p <0,001, table 3), vessel infiltration (V0: 89.0% vs. V1: 58.3%, p < 0,001) and TGF-β-R2 expression in tumour-associated stroma (negative: 82.3% vs. positive: 89.3%, p = 0,003) showed statistically significant correlation to cancer-related survival, whereas for all other factors no association could be demonstrated (see table 3). This evidence concerns the gene TGFBR2 and metastatic malignant neoplasm in the lymph nodes.