EpCAM + CD44+ cells were detected in 5 of 10 (50.0 %) healthy controls and 22 of 23 (95.7 %) ESCC patients with cell counts (average ± SD) of 1.5 ± 1.7 and 33.6 ± 35.6, respectively (p = 0.001, Fig. 3c, d). Here, CD44 is linked to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.