We constructed a prognostic model using stepwise multivariate Cox regression based on these genes in GSE53625 (<i>n</i> = 179), validated in TCGA-ESCC (<i>n</i> = 94) through survival analysis and ROC curve, and analyzed the prognostic value of candidate genes in in-house ESCC samples.<h4>Results</h4>We successfully established a robust prognostic 4-ARGs model comprising <i>NBEA</i>, <i>CLOCK</i>, <i>NLRX1</i>, and <i>MAGEA3</i> (training: <i>p</i> < 0.0001, validation: <i>p</i> = 0.013). This evidence concerns the gene MAGEA3 and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.