Preoperative plasma big ET-1 levels (4.70 ± 0.81 pg/mL) in patients with ESCC were significantly higher than those in controls (3.31 ± 0.78 pg/mL, P < 0.001), light-smokers(3.44 ± 0.71, P = 0.005) and light-drinker(3.36 ± 0.83, P = 0.003), heavy-smokers(4.12 ± 0.56, P = 0.020) and heavy-drinkers(3.86 ± 0.75, P = 0.011). This evidence concerns the gene EDN1 and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.