We found that NQO1 expression emerged as a significant independent prognostic factor for OS rates in patients with NSCLCs (HR: 1.514, 95% CI: 1.066-2.151, P = 0.020) along with tumor size (HR: 5.545, 95% CI: 3.283-9.366, P = 0.000), differentiation (HR: 1.369, 95% CI: 1.055-1.775, P = 0.018), lymph node metastasis (HR: 1.962, 95% CI: 1.334-2.884, P = 0.001) and clinical stage (HR: 2.192, 95% CI: 1.403-3.425, P = 0.001) (Table 3). The gene discussed is NQO1; the disease is metastatic malignant neoplasm in the lymph nodes.