Further analysis of clinical information revealed that HES1 expression was higher in late stages (tumor size>4 cm, or with lymph node or distant metastasis) than that in early stages (tumor size ≤4 cm, or without lymph node or distant metastasis) (P < 0.001, Table 4), and is especially higher in that with lymph node or distant metastasis (P < 0.05) than without. The gene discussed is HES1; the disease is metastasis.