Moreover, the number of IL-6- and IL-8-positive tumour cells positively correlated with TNM stage, and high IL-6 and IL-8 expression was found to indicate poor overall survival of ESCC patients when the medium value of all IL-6 and IL-8 percentages was used as a comparison point. This evidence concerns the gene CXCL8 and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.