SERPINE1 and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: Our laboratory has previously reported that the expression of the CAF marker FAP is associated with OS and DFS in patients with ESCC [10] and that factors secreted by CAFs, such as CCL2, IL-6 [10], PAI-1 [11], IGFBP2 [12], and POSTN [13], are involved in ESCC progression.