Cox proportional-hazards regression analyses for microsatellite stable (MSS) cancers; influence of disease stage, tumour grade and number of tumour front buds.

Abbreviations: TF, tumour front; w-m, well/well-moderately differentiated; m-p, , moderate-poor/poorly differentiated; Cat. value, categorical value. Exp(B) refers to the increase in the odds as a result of an increase in the “unit” (shown in brackets in the categorical value column). Significance levels: ***p<0.001, **p<0.01, *p<0.05, †0.5>p>0.1, NSp>0.1. In a separate univariate analysis, the Exp(B) value (with 95% confidence limits) for the differentiation state parameter was 2.08 [1.44–3.00], p<0.001. For a bivariate analysis with disease stage and differentiation state, the Exp (B) value (with 95% confidence limits) for the differentiation state parameter was 1.60 [1.10–2.33], p<0.05. The level of significance was retained when no. of TF buds was added as a third parameter. Finally, in multivariate analyses with disease stage, no. of TF buds and CB1IR score, the Exp(B) value (with 95% confidence limits) for tumour centre and tumour front CB1IR scores were 1.97 [1.31–2.96], p<0.01 and 1.81 [1.23–2.68], p<0.01, respectively.