Serum ESPL1 levels show an increasing trend across groups with chronic HBV infection, CHB, LC, and HBV-HCC, with levels at 224.6 ng/L, 285.8 ng/L, and 440.4 ng/L (in pairwise comparison, P<0.05). Here, ESPL1 is linked to laryngotracheoesophageal cleft.