Absolute quantification of AGPG and PFKFB3 levels showed that there were ~ 400–700 AGPG molecules per cell versus ~ 4400–7400 PFKFB3 molecules per cell (Supplementary Fig. 3d), indicating that there are sufficient AGPG copies in ESCC cells18. Here, PFKFB3 is linked to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.