It has been observed that functional polymorphisms in the TIM-3 gene can confer genetic susceptibility to certain cancers, including non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL), breast cancer and gastrointestinal cancers, and increased expression of TIM-3 has been detected on cancer cells such as cervical cancer, prostate cancer, osteosarcoma and esophageal adenocarcinoma. This evidence concerns the gene HAVCR2 and esophageal adenocarcinoma.