High NFIA expression (HR = 3.388, 95% CI = 1.801–6.371, P < 0.001), lymph node metastasis (HR = 3.628, 95% CI = 2.020–6.517, P < 0.001), and T‐stage (HR = 2.228, 95% CI = 1.166–4.256, P = 0.015) were also independent risk factors for DFS in ESCC (Table 3). Here, NFIA is linked to metastatic malignant neoplasm in the lymph nodes.