VEGFB and metastatic malignant neoplasm in the lymph nodes: This conclusion is consistent with those reported for high VEGF-B expression in carcinoma tissues in Belgian, German, and Japanese mCRC patients33–35, as well as those observed for positive associations of high VEGF-D expression with poor survival, lymph node metastasis, and progression of CRC in Belgian, Chinese, Japanese, and/or UK patients10,11,33,36.