In brief, as shown in Fig. 7, nSMase2/MAPK/NF-κB pathway mediated PAR4 activation-induced tumor inhibitory effect, while FAK/PI3K/AKT/STAT3/NF-κB pathway mediated PAR1 activation-induced tumor promoting effect in ESCC. This evidence concerns the gene PTK2 and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.