VEGFA and neoplasm: In model 1, where all patients were assessed, high stromal Ang-4 (HR = 1.47, CI 95% 1.02–2.11, P = 0.04), stromal Ang-2 expression (HR = 1.88, CI 95% 1.15–3.08, P = 0.012) and high tumor cell expression of VEGF-A (HR = 1.49, CI 1.04–2.14, P = 0.029) were significant independent prognosticators for DSS in addition to several clinicopathological variables (tumor status, P<0.001: nodal status, P<0.001; performance status, P = 0.013; vascular infiltration; P = 0.011; differentiation, P = 0.033).