HIC1 and metastatic malignant neoplasm in the lymph nodes: In addition, HIC1 methylation frequency was significantly greater for patients older than 45 years-of-age and for those with higher TNM staging HIC1 mRNA and protein expression in patients with lymph node metastasis were significantly lower for those without lymph node metastasis and for patients younger than 45 years-of-age and for patients with higher TNM staging.