The results showed a negative correlation between XIAP and E-cadherin expression (r = − 0.278, p < 0.001) and a positive correlation between XIAP and N-cadherin (r = 0.309, p < 0.001) and Vimentin (r = 0.209, p = 0.006) expression in ESCC tissues (Table 5). Here, VIM is linked to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.