In this study, we first report the importance of TIA1, particularly the TIA1a isoform, as a molecule exerting oncogenic activity by ectopically localizing to the cytoplasm and increasing/decreasing the expression of a set of cancer-related genes, including SKP2 and CCNA2, in the malignant progression of ESCC. The gene discussed is TIA1; the disease is esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.