Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses (Table 2) indicated that the five independent prognostic factors in patients with ESCC were alcohol consumption, pT staging, SCC-Ag level (adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.200; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.083–1.330; P = 0.001), LNs, and albumin level (adjusted HR, 0.945; 95% CI, 0.896–0.997; P = 0.038). This evidence concerns the gene ALB and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.