Table 2 Cox regression analysis of risk factors for cancer-related death in ESCC patients

SOX17 expression ^d

 SOX17^high

1

1

 SOX17^low

2.529 (1.681–3.803)

< 0.001

2.767 (1.786–4.288)

< 0.001

NRF2 expression ^d

 NRF2^low

1

1

 NRF2^high

1.660 (1.127–2.446)

0.010

1.614 (1.076–2.421)

0.021

SOX17/NRF2 expression^d

 SOX17^high NRF2^low

1

1

 SOX17^high NRF2^high

1.369 (0.661–2.883)

0.397

1.403 (0.667–2.952)

0.373

 SOX17^low NRF2^low

2.125 (1.043–4.329)

0.038

2.516 (1.207–5.245)

0.014

 SOX17^low NRF2^high

3.738 (1.965–7.110)

< 0.001

4.313 (2.218–8.384)

< 0.001

Age

 < 55 year-old

1

1

 ≥ 55 year-old

1.274 (0.886–1.832)

0.191

1.481 (1.002–2.189)

0.049

Sex

 Male

1

1

 Female

0.457 (0.169–1.239)

0.124

0.397 (0.138–1.141)

0.086

Smoker

 No

1

1

 Yes

1.077 (0.645–1.797)

0.777

0.915 (0.518–1.619)

0.762

Stage

 Stage I–III

1

1

 Stage IV

1.088 (0.769–1.540)

0.633

1.150 (0.787–1.680)

0.471

T status ^e

 Stage I–III

1

1

 Stage IV

1.313 (0.857–2.011)

0.211

1.224 (0.793–1.891)

0.362

N status ^e

 N0

1

1

 N1

1.072 (0.633–1.817)

0.795

0.652 (0.363–1.170)

0.152

M status ^e

 M0

1

1

 M1

1.051 (0.741–1.489)

0.782

1.117 (0.765–1.633)

0.566