Differential expression analysis revealed that STING, which plays a pivotal role in mediating NF-κB signaling-dependent anti-tumor immune responses [27], was negatively related to KDM1A in sTILs (Fig. 4B, p = 0.0261), rather than in ESCC (Fig. 4C), which was further supported by immunostaining data (Fig. 4D, E, p = 0.0359). This evidence concerns the gene NFKB1 and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.