The positivity rates for SOX17 expression in the normal esophageal mucosa, esophageal squamous epithelial dysplasia, or SCC in situ and ESCC samples were 83.3% (50/60), 60% (36/60), and 41.4% (87/210), respectively, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.05). Here, SOX17 is linked to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.