In the present study, we observed the abnormal overexpression of IL-32 in ESCC by RNA microarray (84 paired ESCC tumor and peritumor tissues) and tissue array immunohistochemistry (56 paired ESCC tumor and peritumor tissues), which was positively associated with lymph node metastasis and poor clinical prognosis in ESCC. The gene discussed is IL32; the disease is esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.