In multivariate analysis of overall survival, when other risk factors such as histology grade, pathology stage, pathology tuberculosis and nodal status were taken in consideration, the HR of high FOXP3 expression was improved from 1.86 (95% CI: 1.18–1.92, P = 0.01) to 2.09 (95% CI: 1.27–3.44, P = 0.00) (Additional file 1: Table S4). This evidence concerns the gene FOXP3 and tuberculosis.