The overexpression of both HOXA13 (Fig. 9c) and HOXB7 (Fig. 9d) was significantly associated with an advanced tumour stage (HOXA13: OR = 2.31, 95% CI: 1.44–3.71 and HOXB7: OR = 3.48, 95% CI: 2.28–5.32) and a high T category (HOXA13: OR = 2.62, 95% CI: 1.23–5.60 and HOXB7: OR = 6.05, 95% CI: 2.08–17.57), and HOXA13 was also related to lymph node metastasis (OR = 2.38, 95% CI: 1.51–3.75) and poor differentiation status (OR = 1.99, 95% CI: 1.25–3.15). Here, HOXB7 is linked to neoplasm.