In esophageal squamous cell carcinoma, CAF-like cells produce plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), which augments migration and invasion through the PAI-1/low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1) axis via Akt-Erk1/2 pathways. Here, SERPINE1 is linked to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.