We also provide evidence that a negative association exists between the expression of miR-223 and the FBXW7 protein in ESCC patients (Pearson correlation, r=−0.336; P<0.01), and revealed that the miR-223 expression responds to alterations in the c-Myc and c-Jun protein levels as regulated by the FBXW7 pathway in vitro. These findings suggested that the overexpression of miR-223 correlates with the poor prognosis of ESCC, possibly because of repression of the function of the FBXW7 protein. The gene discussed is FBXW7; the disease is esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.