MFAP2 and cancer: Although elevated MFAP2 expression has been observed in several cancers, including papillary thyroid cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, ovarian cancer, melanoma, laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma, and breast cancer21-26, the expression and potential molecular mechanism of MFAP2 in different subtypes of esophageal cancer, particularly in ESCC, remain unclear.