When comparing the SEC62 and SOX2 expression in the lymph node metastases for all patients grouped according to the histologically proven N stages (pN1, pN2, pN3), the SEC62 expression levels showed a stepwise increase, and the SOX2 expression levels demonstrated a stepwise decrease when proceeding to higher N stages (Figure 3B). The gene discussed is SOX2; the disease is metastatic malignant neoplasm in the lymph nodes.