Consistent with our meta-analysis results, high SNHG15 expression was associated with advanced TNM stage (P=0.014; see Table 4), lymph node metastasis (P < 0.001; Table 4), and distant metastases (P < 0.001; see Table 4), while no significant correlation was observed between SNHG15 expression and gender (P=0.637; see Table 4). This evidence concerns the gene SNHG15 and metastatic malignant neoplasm in the lymph nodes.