Although there was no association of FZD7 mRNA expression level with age, sex, tumour grade, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis or histological type on univariate analysis (data not shown), higher FZD7 mRNA expression (⩾mean value of all tumours tested) was significantly associated with shorter survival (P<0.001; Figure 4C). The gene discussed is FZD7; the disease is neoplasm.