To explore the prognostic significance of PD-L1 expression and TILs for ESCC, we investigated the extent of PD-L1 expression and TILs in formalin-fixed samples from 428 Chinese ESCC patients, and analyzed the association between PD-L1 expression, TIL density and outcome. This evidence concerns the gene CD274 and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.