Contrary to our results high ALCAM expression in the primary tumor was found to be associated with reduced survival or unfavourable prognostic markers in some tumor types, i.e. colorectal [4,7], oral [10,21], esophageal [11], pancreatic [22] and gastric carcinomas [23] as well as neuroblastoma [24]. The gene discussed is ALCAM; the disease is neoplasm.