MMP1 and neoplasm: Our study confirmed that, at higher expression levels, the candidate genes BGN (P = 0.036), MMP1 (P = 0.044), LGALS1 (P = 0.008), SERPINB5 (P = 0.008), and TM4SF4 (P = 0.043) from the tumor buds and the microenvironment signified a poorer prognosis for CRC patients, a result in accordance with the poor prognosis of tumor budding in CRC patients14.