In previous studies, estrogen receptor (ER) status (positive: negative), HER-2 receptor status (positive: negative), tumor size (≤1:>1), and lymph node metastasis (N0+ N1: N2+N3), and plasma NGAL levels (all p >0.05) [11]. Here, LCN2 is linked to metastatic malignant neoplasm in the lymph nodes.