A combination of mismatch repair (MMR) and Metastasis Associated in Colon Cancer 1 (MACC1) gene expression status of the patient serve as a basis for risk stratification of early stage colon cancer patients. Patients with defective MMR (dMMR) status have improved survival and do not benefit from 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) therapies. In contrast, patients with a proficient MMR (pMMR) status have a higher risk of recurrence and worse survival. The pMMR patients are then further stratified on the basis of MACC1 gene expression. Patients with a pMMR status and a low MACC1 expression have a favorable prognosis similar to patients having a dMMR status, whereas patients having a pMMR status and high MACC1 expression have a less favorable prognosis.