Further univariate Cox regression analysis identified WHO grade, tumor size, T status, N status, M status, CRT response and DAB2IP expression to have a significant impact on DSS (P = 0.012, 0.003, 0.001, 0.030, 0.022, < 0.001 and < 0.001 respectively; Table 3). This evidence concerns the gene DAB2IP and neoplasm.