From among the factors considered in this group, a higher POSTN expression in CAFs, age ≥ 63 years, a larger primary tumour size (T2–T4), lymph node metastasis, an advanced stage (II–IV) (in the whole study cohort and in AC and SCC), the smoking status, and a high expression of Ki-67 (AC) were associated with a poor prognosis (Table 1A,B). Here, POSTN is linked to metastatic malignant neoplasm in the lymph nodes.