Consequently, a total of 24 genes were candidate genes (Crin score >4) of ESCC (Table 1), such as cysteine-rich secretory protein 3 (CRISP3), epiregulin (EREG), chemokine receptor 2 (CXCR2), and cornulin (CRNN). This evidence concerns the gene EREG and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.