Using Univariate Cox regression analysis, the results confirmed negative correlations between overall survival and gender (p = 0.014), tumor invasion (p = 0.000), lymph-node metastasis (p = 0.000), TNM stage (p = 0.000), and high CDKL3 (p = 0.014) and ATG5 expression (p = 0.007) in ESCC patients. The gene discussed is CDKL3; the disease is esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.