The Pat group presented notably higher FTO, CEA, and CYFRA21-1 levels than the Con group (all P < 0.05), and patients with a high FTO level faced notably higher probabilities of stage III + IV and lymph node metastasis (LNM) (both P < 0.05). The gene discussed is CEACAM5; the disease is metastatic malignant neoplasm in the lymph nodes.