Six hub genes of RPS6KA6, SORBS2, EPHB3, QSOX1, S100A6 and UNC5CL from the two stage‐related modules were identified and then underwent comprehensive validation tests, including expression difference analysis between tumour and normal tissue in our data set, GEPIA database, GSE29265 and GSE3678, as well as among four stage tumours based on our data set and GEPIA database, respectively. This evidence concerns the gene EPHB3 and neoplasm.