NDRG4 mRNA expression was found to be associated with tumor cell differentiation, depth of wall invasion, vascular invasion, lymph node metastasis, distant metastases and TNM stage since reduced NDRG4 expression was more frequently to be detected in tumors with poor differentiation (P < 0.001), deep invasion (P < 0.001), lymph node metastasis (P < 0.001), distant metastases (P = 0.018) or advanced TNM stage (P < 0.001). This evidence concerns the gene NDRG4 and metastatic malignant neoplasm in the lymph nodes.