A positive relationship was noted between TLR4 staining score in the tumor epithelium and tumor stage, controlling for histology grade, with significantly higher intensity score for stages 2 and 3 compared to stage 1 (Stage 1 = 0.17, Stage 2 = 0.64, Stage 3 = 0.64, Stage 4 = 0.92; p =0.01, 0.002, and NS, respectively). The gene discussed is TLR4; the disease is neoplasm.