The univariate analysis demonstrated that IL-17 producing cell density (P = 0.006), differentiation (P = 0.006), T (depth of tumor invasion, P = 0.002), N (lymph node metastases, P<0.001) and TNM staging (P<0.001) were significantly associated with overall survival (Table 2). The gene discussed is IL17A; the disease is metastatic malignant neoplasm in the lymph nodes.