Fig. 4

Graphical representation of the two-step cluster analysis, depicting the risk dependent clusters #1, #2, and #3. Every row represents one patient with his or her specific molecular genetic tumor profile. The occurrence of distant metastasis is indicated by filled bars, open bars indicate absence of distant metastasis. Prognostically poor specifications of the nominal variables are indicated as red bars (KRAS exon 2 mutation, BRAF exon 15 mutation, stable microsatellite status or MSS). For the continuous mRNA expression variables, the colour gradient from green to red indicates increasing biological aggressiveness (high levels of OPN and MACC1, low levels of SASH1)