CD8<sup>+</sup> T cells and FOXP3<sup>+</sup> regulatory T cells (Tregs) were quantified separately intraepithelial and stromal compartments.<h4>Results</h4>High-grade tumor budding was identified in 48 cases (45.3%) and was significantly associated with lymph node metastasis (LNM) on univariate analysis; however, it was not an independent predictor of LNM on multivariable logistic regression analysis. This evidence concerns the gene CD8A and metastatic malignant neoplasm in the lymph nodes.