In this report we utilized a next-generation sequencing-based approach to both detect and quantify EPCAM+CD44+CD49f+ cells in surgically resected lymph nodes with a somatic variant profile similar to the primary tumor and tumor EPCAM+CD44+CD49f+ cells, providing evidence for the presence of micrometastatic disease despite negative traditional histologic staging. Here, ITGA6 is linked to neoplasm.