AGER and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: When compared to the adjacent esophageal tissue group, the expression of HMGB1 and RAGE proteins were markedly increased in ESCC group (0.628 ± 0.025 vs. 0.908 ± 0.038, P < 0.001; 0.372 ± 0.074 vs. 0.789 ± 0.055, P < 0.001; respectively).