As shown in Table 3, MTA1 over-expression was strongly correlated with depth of invasion (OR = 1.88, 95%CI: 1.05–3.37, P = 0.03, Fig 2A), lymph node metastasis (OR = 2.30, 95%CI: 1.76–3.01, P<0.001, Fig 2B), vascular invasion (OR = 2.02, 95%CI: 1.40–2.91, P<0.001, Fig 3A) and TNM stage (OR = 2.78, 95%CI: 1.63–4.74, P<0.001, Fig 3B). The gene discussed is MTA1; the disease is metastatic malignant neoplasm in the lymph nodes.