['Type VIIcollagen, the major component of anchoring fibrils, has been suggested to be involved with tumor cell invasion in a laminin-5-dependent manner in skin squamous cell carcinoma. However, the significance of type VII collagen expression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) has been unknown to date. Therefore, we examined the expression of type VIIcollagen in ESCC, and confirmed the association between type VIIcollagen expression and clinicopathologic characteristics.', 'We immunohistochemically examined the expression of type VII collagen and laminin-5 gamma2 chain in surgical specimens of primary tumors in 109 patients with ESCC.', 'Positive cytoplasmic expression of type VII collagen was detected in 35%. Significant correlation between the expression of type VII collagen and laminin-5 gamma2 chain expression was observed. In the type VII collagen-negative group, the 5-year survival rate was significantly better than in the positive group. Multivariate analysis indicated that the positive expression of type VII collagen was an independent prognostic factor.'] Is cytoplasmic expression of type VII collagen related to prognosis in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma?