On the basis of previous study, 10 lncRNAs (HOTAIR, AFAP1-AS1, POU3F3, HNF1A-AS1, PlncRNA1, SPRY4-IT1, ENST00000435885.1, ENST00000547963.1, 91H and XLOC_013104) which have been reported to be differently expressed in esophageal cancer were selected in the present study. Here, AFAP1 is linked to esophageal cancer.