Moreover, the following biofunctional assays showed that CRABP2 significantly inhibited cell growth, induced cell apoptosis, promoted G1/S checkpoint transition and blocked cell metastasis both in vitro and in vivo, implicating that CRABP2 is a possible candidate for the diagnosis, targeted therapy and prognosis of ESCC in the future. This evidence concerns the gene CRABP2 and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.