Survival analysis indicated that the HMGB1 expression level in ESCC were significantly associated with overall survival (χ2 = 4.770, P = 0.029; Fig. 1C), but no association was found between p-ATM and OS (χ2 = 2.874, P = 0.090; Fig. 1C). This evidence concerns the gene ATM and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.