In consistence, the expression of CAFs markers, like α-SMA, CD10, podoplanin and FSP1, is correlated with lymph node metastasis in the submucosal invasive CRC, therefore may allow for stratification of patients with high risk of lymph node metastasis (Sugai et al., 2018). This evidence concerns the gene PDPN and metastatic malignant neoplasm in the lymph nodes.