IGFBP3 and esophageal cancer: For survival status, the OR was 4.490 (95% CI: 2.207–9.093, p = 0.000, Fig. 4), signifying that the low IGFBP-3 level was correlated with the survival status of patients, and esophageal cancer patients with low IGFBP-3 level occupied a lower survival rate.