No distinct relationship was observed between the lncRNA TUG1 expression and age (OR = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.76–1.28, P = 0.92; I2 = 4%), gender (OR = 0.92, 95% CI = 0.70–1.22, P = 0.57; I2 = 0%), diameter (OR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.34–2.01, P = 0.67; I2 = 85%), smoking (OR = 1.09, 95% CI = 0.37–3.21, P = 0.87; I2 = 73%), TNM stage (OR = 0.60, 95%CI=0.25–1.43, P = 0.25;I2=86%) and lymph node metastasis (OR = 1.07, 95% CI = 0.47–2.45, P = 0.87; I2 = 86%). The gene discussed is TUG1; the disease is metastatic malignant neoplasm in the lymph nodes.