In multivariate Cox regression analysis, the expression of MMP13 mRNA remained as a significant prognostic factor for survival after adjustment for age, gender, risk habits, and clinicopathologic parameters (tumor sites, lymph node metastasis, and tumor staging) which are the common confounding factors in OSCC (HRR = 2.23, 95% CI 1.015–4.896, P = 0.046) (Table 3). The gene discussed is MMP13; the disease is metastatic malignant neoplasm in the lymph nodes.