In both cohorts, HOXB5 expression positively correlated with CXCR4 and ITGB3 expression (Figure 3B-C), and elevated expression of CXCR4 and ITGB3 positively associated with lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis and advanced AJCC stage (Supplementary Table S2-S3). Here, HOXB5 is linked to metastatic malignant neoplasm in the lymph nodes.