To investigate whether uPA promotes ESCC progression via PI3K/AKT or ERK signaling pathways, we treated EC109 and KYSE30 cells for 30 min with 10 μM LY294002, PI3K inhibitor, or U0126, MEK inhibitor, before uPA or CAF CM treatment. Here, AKT1 is linked to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.