The multivariate Cox regression model with a stepwise selection procedure identified that the following eight of ten prognostic factors were the strongest independent predictors for both OS and CSS: age, first-degree relative cancer history, differentiation grade, vessels/nerves invasion, TNM stage, carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19–9 and Onodera's prognostic nutritional index (PNI) (Table 2). This evidence concerns the gene CEACAM5 and cancer.