Furthermore, we found high VCAN expression in the stromal compartment to be associated with better resection outcome (p = 0.003, odds ratio [OR] 0.17, 95 % CI 0.053–0.53, Table 2) and higher T-stage of the primary tumour (p = 0.027, OR 3.59, 95 % CI 2.40–5.37, Table 2). This evidence concerns the gene VCAN and neoplasm.