CXCL12 and neoplasm: CXCL12-positive budding divided into high- and low-grade, staining in the tumor divided into high and low expression. Patients with high-grade CXCL12 budding and high CXCL12 expression had shorter survival than patients with low-grade CXCL12 budding and low CXCL12 expression. CXCL12 expression in buds independent adverse prognostic factor in multivariate analysis irrespective of budding grade