In addition, we found that MMP10 and MMP13, functional molecules of the FAK-PI3K/Akt signaling pathways, were highly expressed in ESCC (Fig. 6c) and CASC9 depletion reduced MMP10 and MMP13 expression (Fig. 6d, e). This evidence concerns the gene CASC9 and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.