This indicates that there might be a pathophysiological distinction between activity of GDF15 expression (measured as intensity) and actual number of cells expressing GDF15 (measured as fraction) between invasive tumour tissue and normal mucosa, supporting that intensity of immunoreactivity rather than fraction of positive cells for GDF15 better serves as a prognostic marker in CRC. The gene discussed is GDF15; the disease is colorectal carcinoma.