The results demonstrated that the levels of POU3F3, HNF1A-AS1 and SPRY4-IT1 were significantly higher in plasma from ESCC patients compared with normal controls, providing strong evidence that ESCC-related lncRNAs could be released into the circulation and that their different expression profiles in plasma could be used as diagnostic markers for ESCC. The gene discussed is POU3F3; the disease is esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.