CXCR4 and metastatic malignant neoplasm in the lymph nodes: In the univariate survival analysis, lymph node metastasis, advanced TNM stage, positive resection margins, poor tumor differentiation, CXCR4 expression and EGFR/CXCR4 coexpression were significant prognostic factors for poor DFS and OS (Table 3, Fig. 2).