As decreased expression of MHC I antigen presentation molecules was observed in mature TLSs compared to immature TLSs, we speculated that increased CD4+ Th cells, which were activated with Th17 signatures in mature TLSs, may take part in priming and enhancing CD8+ T cells outside TLSs in ESCC tissues. Here, CD8A is linked to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.