Background: Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) is matricellular protein that modulates interactions between cells and the extracellular matrix. The role of SPARC in carcinogenesis is controversialin that SPARC can be a tumor suppressor, but overexpression of SPARC is associated with poorer prognosis. Methods: We collected 145 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and adjacent normal tissues in Shantou, a high incidence region for esophageal cancer. The mRNA and protein expression levels of SPARC in cancer tissue and in adjacent normal mucosa were measured by qRT-PCR, western blot and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Results: The mRNA and protein levels of SPARC were 5.78-fold higher in cancer tissues compared with the case-matched normal epithelium. High expression levels of SPARC in ESCC parenchyma, as detected by IHC, were related to lymph node metastasis and poor prognosis (p = 0.049 and p = 0.04). Conclusion: High expression of SPARC in the parenchyma may be a potential predictor of prognosis, suggesting SPARC could serve as a therapeutic target in ESCC. (C) 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.