Immunostaining revealed a significant correlation between c-Met expression and lymphatic vessel invasion (ly0.1 vs. 2.3; P=0.0416), lymph node metastasis (n0.1 vs. 2; P=0.0184) and maximum tumor diameter (≤50 mm vs. >50 mm; P=0.0469). The gene discussed is MET; the disease is neoplasm.