Taken together, our data provide evidence that serum DSG2 is higher in patients with ESCC and EJA and that analysis of serum DSG2 concentration generates novel and useful information for diagnosis of ESCC and EJA; however, the sample size of patients with early-stage ESCC and EJA was relatively small in the present study. The gene discussed is DSG2; the disease is esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.