Further, high TLR3, TLR4, and TLR9 expression were also observed in stromal cells of ESCC and these were found to be associated with lymphatic metastasis, whereas the increase expression of TLR7 and TLR9 were noted to be linked to the advanced clinical stage of the disease (82, 83). This evidence concerns the gene TLR4 and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.