Moreover, higher histological grading, positive lymphovascular invasion, positive perineural invasion, preoperative intestinal obstruction or perforation, elevated levels of preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) have been generally recognized to be associated with recurrence, metastasis and short survival (4, 5). This evidence concerns the gene CEACAM5 and intestinal obstruction.