In conclusion, our study confirmed the role of MUC1 in lymph node metastasis induced by CCL21-CCR7 in ESCC and elucidated the possible phosphorylation of the ERK1/2 and Sp1 pathways in the regulation of MUC1 by CCL21-CCR7. Here, MUC1 is linked to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.