So, in the present study, we investigated the association of TNFA-308 G>A, NFKB1 -94ATTG ins/del and NFKBIA (-826 C>T and 3’UTR A>G) polymorphisms with susceptibility to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) or its clinical phenotypes, their interaction with environmental risk factors and their role in survival outcome of ESCC patients. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.