Based on GSVA, we identified 17 hallmark gene sets involved in lymph node metastasis, of which the upregulated hallmark gene sets IL6_JAK_STAT3_SIGNALING, REACTIVE_OXIGEN_SPECIES_PATHWAY,ANGIOGENESIS, HYPOXIA and APICAL_JUNCTION were reportedly associated with lymph node metastasis in cancer [19–22]. The gene discussed is STAT3; the disease is cancer.