In treatment response analysis, high XRCC1 expression was associated with increased risk of minor treatment response in esophageal cancer (OR = 0.46, 95% CI: 0.24–0.88, P = 0.019) and in patients receiving radiotherapy only (OR = 0.36, 95% CI: 0.21–0.62, P = 0.000). This evidence concerns the gene XRCC1 and esophageal cancer.