Esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma(ESCC)is one of the most common cancers in the world,and about 50%of patients with ESCC occur in China,where this malignancy ranks as the fourth most common cause of cancer-related death.Although therapies such as esophagectomy,chemotherapy and radiotherapy are frequently used to treat ESCC,the long-term outcome of this cancer Esophageal squamous-cell carcinoma (one of the most common cancers in the world, and about 50% of patients with ESCC occur in China, where this malignancy ranks as the fourth most common cause of cancer-related death. Although therapies such as esophagectomy, chemotherapy and radiotherapy are frequently used to treat ESCC, the long-term outcome of this cancer