CD274 and metastatic malignant neoplasm in the lymph nodes: In summary, we demonstrated tumoral PD-L1 expression at large-range levels (IHC cut-off from1% to 30%) was independent prognostic factor, associated with good prognosis in earlier stage of ESCC (with Stage I-II disease or without lymph node metastasis), not in later stage of ESCC (with Stage III-IV disease or with lymph node metastasis).