To identify if the up-regulation of p-ERK/ERK and the down-regulation of STAT1 are implicated in ESCC cancer progression, we assessed the expression of these three markers in 22 cases of benign esophageal epithelial tissues adjacent to ESCC and 12 carcinoma in situ samples using immunohistochemistry. The gene discussed is MAPK1; the disease is esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.