Besides, to investigate the predictive significance of CDKL3 and ATG5 in prognostic value of 5-year OS in ESCC patients, time-dependent ROC curve was analyzed to compare the predictive accuracy between the CDKL3-based nomogram, ATG5-based nomogram, CDKL3 + ATG5-based nomogram, CDKL3 + ATG5 + TNM stage–based nomogram (named as improved TNM) and TNM stage. The gene discussed is ATG5; the disease is esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.