They also detected a significant higher tissue expression of ANXA5 in CRC patients with lymph node metastasis, which was positively correlated with the stage of CRC and serum level of ANXA5. The authors concluded that ANXA5 expression in CRC tissues is related to lymph node metastasis and tumor grade. Here, ANXA5 is linked to metastatic malignant neoplasm in the lymph nodes.