It has been reported that the fak gene dosage is increased in a variety of cell lines derived from SCC of the head and neck, lung, breast, and colon cancer (Agochiya et al, 1999).25 As our study material was ESCC, the observed overexpression of FAK might have been caused by fak gene amplification. The gene discussed is PTK2; the disease is esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.