Consistent with the results of IHC analysis of SLC39A6 protein alteration in Han ethnic, SLC39A6 expression was upregulated in 68/86 (79.07 %) of ESCC specimens, and only in 14/41 (34.15 %) in normal samples (Fig. 2c, d). The gene discussed is SLC39A6; the disease is esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.