Meanwhile, changes in the levels of endogenous bioactive cytokines, including IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α and TGF-β, which are usually diagnosed as indicators of cancer progression, were further assessed by ELISA of serum IL-6, IL-10, TNF-α, and TGF-β levels in clinical subjects, and we found significant differences in serum inflammatory cytokines in patients with ESCC compared with healthy controls (Fig. 1E). This evidence concerns the gene TGFB1 and cancer.