However, the expression of SOX9 was positively associated with tumor size (OR: 1.58, 95% CI: 1.31–1.91), lymph node metastasis (OR: 1.61, 95% CI: 1.30–1.99), distant metastasis (OR: 1.53, 95% CI: 1.25–1.87) and a higher clinical stage (OR: 1.68, 95% CI: 1.33–2.12) in the random-effects model with significant heterogeneities (see Table 3 and Supplementary Figure 1). The gene discussed is SOX9; the disease is metastatic malignant neoplasm in the lymph nodes.