Quantitative analysis for FGFR2 revealed higher FGFR2 protein levels in tumor epithelial cells at tumor invasive margin of EOCC than LOCC or normal colon tissue areas (Supplementary Fig. 13); on contrary the protein levels of FGF20 were significantly upregulated in CAFs FAP(+) at the tumor invasive margin of EOCC compared to LOCC (Fig. 7a–d and Supplementary Fig. 14). This evidence concerns the gene FAP and neoplasm.