p16INK4a can act as a tumor suppressor that is implicated in the prevention of cancers, notably melanoma, oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, cervical cancer and esophageal cancer.29 Chien et al.,29 described that p16INK4a overexpression led to an extended S-phase in cancer cells that contained WTp53. Here, CDKN2A is linked to esophageal cancer.