Positive MMP13 expression showed a considerable trend as an independent prognostic factor towards unfavorable overall survival after adjustment with other clinicopathological parameters such as tumor subsites, lymph node metastasis, tumor staging, pattern of invasion, and tumor differentiation (HRR = 2.84, 95% CI 0.922–8.768, P = 0.069) (Table 4). This evidence concerns the gene MMP13 and metastatic malignant neoplasm in the lymph nodes.