As illustrated in Figure 9, we propose a model to explain how stathmin overexpression promotes metastasis in ESCC cells: (i) the overexpression of stathmin increases the number cellular adhesion molecules and (ii) increases the keratin 17 of intermediate filaments for metastasis, (iii) promoting cell invasion and migration via the FN/integrinα5β1/FAK signaling pathway. Here, PTK2 is linked to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.