Lymph node metastasis (P=0.024) and overexpression of EGFR (P=0.041) were the only independent variables associated with poor survival, with a risk ratio of 4.22 for lymph node metastasis (95% CI=1.21–14.74), and 5.88 for EGFR overexpression (95% CI=1.07–32.31). The gene discussed is EGFR; the disease is metastatic malignant neoplasm in the lymph nodes.