Clinicopathologic analysis revealed that expression of USP3 was positively correlated with tumor differentiation status (P < 0.001), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.013), tumor size (< 10 cm vs ≥ 10 cm, P = 0.016), AJCC T stage (I/II vs. III/IV, P = 0.029), and clinical TNM stage (I/II vs. III/IV, P < 0.001). The gene discussed is USP3; the disease is metastasis.