Among the significant methylated genes, APC, BMP6, BRCA1 and P16 represented higher methylation proportions in matched lymph node metastasis compared to those of the normal tissue (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, P < 0.0001, P < 0.05; respectively). This evidence concerns the gene BMP6 and metastatic malignant neoplasm in the lymph nodes.