Using univariate analysis, we found that lymph node metastasis (P=0.025), vascular invasion (P=0.002), perineural invasion (P=0.001), type of surgery (P=0.019), high postoperative serum CEA level (P=0.001), and presence of persistent postoperative CTCs (P<0.001) were significantly correlated to postoperative early relapse. This evidence concerns the gene CEACAM5 and metastatic malignant neoplasm in the lymph nodes.