On the contrary, KLF7 expression was associated with TNM stages, showing higher expression in stage T3 or T4 relative to T1 or T2 of COAD, higher expression in lymph node metastasis positive (N1&N2) or distant organ metastasis-positive (M1) COAD compared to lymph node metastasis negative (N0) COAD or non-distant metastatic (M0) COAD (Fig. 1C). Here, KLF7 is linked to metastatic malignant neoplasm in the lymph nodes.