Consequently, the results also showed that SOX9 expression was closely associated with age (OR = 1.34; 95% CI: 1.04–1.72; P = .03), tumor size (OR = 0.67; 95% CI: 0.49–0.91; P = .01), histological differentiation (OR = 0.62; 95% CI: 0.36–1.06; P = .002), tumor stage (OR = 0.48; 95% CI: 0.20–1.12; P = .04), lymph node metastasis (OR = 0.36; 95% CI: 0.19–0.67; P = .0010) and advanced TNM stage (OR = 0.46; 95% CI: 0.30–0.70; P = .0003), but not significantly related to gender, distant metastasis and vascular invasion. The gene discussed is SOX9; the disease is metastatic malignant neoplasm in the lymph nodes.