As presented in Table 4, when stratified by alcoholic use, in the ever drinking subgroup, we found that the rs2171513 G > A variant in BTLA gene might be a protective variable against the progression of ESCC (GA/AA vs GG: adjusted OR = 0.62, 95% CI = 0.39‐0.97, P = .037). Here, BTLA is linked to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.