VAX2 and metastatic malignant neoplasm in the lymph nodes: The findings showed that increased VAX2 expression was significantly associated with differentiation (P = 0.03), AJCC T stage (T1/2 vs. T3/4, P = 0.013, Fig. 1E1), TNM stage (I/II vs. III/IV, P = 0.001, Fig. 1E2), and lymph node metastasis (P = 0.001, Fig. 1E3, N0 vs. N1-3).