A multivariate logistic regression analysis, including clinicopathological factors, lymph node metastasis, and genetic status of the primary tumour, revealed that only the number of pathologically positive lymph nodes and the presence of EGFR numerical aberrations of the primary tumour were significantly independent predictors of ECS (odds ratio=9.400 and 8.206, 95% confidence interval=2.136–41.370, and 1.631–41.295, P=0.003 and P=0.011, respectively, hit ratio=73.1% Table 3). The gene discussed is EGFR; the disease is metastatic malignant neoplasm in the lymph nodes.