EZR and neoplasm: In Cohort 1, the following clinicopathological factors were significantly related to LN metastasis in univariate logistic analysis: large tumor size (P = 0.0004), advanced T stage (P < 0.0001), poor differentiation/mucinous (P = 0.0115), lymphatic invasion (P < 0.0001), venous invasion (P < 0.0001), and high ezrin protein expression in CRC (P = 0.0085).