As shown in Fig. 2a, patients with high tumor Apelin staining had a significantly shorter overall survival period compared to those with low Apelin expression and those with weak or negative Apelin staining (22.6 ± 4.9, 29.1 ± 3.7 and 30.4 ± 6.4, months, P < 0.001 by log-rank test, Fig. 2a). The gene discussed is APLN; the disease is neoplasm.