In ESCC, co-expression of both aFGF and FGFR1 was associated with larger tumor area and worse prognosis which suggests that the membrane receptor may promote proliferation of esophageal cancer cells in an angiogenesis-independent and autocrine manner and may contribute to rapid recurrence after esophageal resection [47]. Here, FGF1 is linked to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.