Univariate analysis revealed a significant relationship between lymph node metastasis and the following factors: histological grade (P=0.04), tumour size (P=0.01), depth of invasion (P=0.02), lymphatic invasion (P<0.0001), venous invasion (P=0.003) and MCAK mRNA expression (P=0.003). This evidence concerns the gene KIF2C and neoplasm.