Conversely, suppression of ODC expression is associated with decreased cell proliferation, increased apoptosis and decreased expression of genes affecting tumor invasion and metastasis.27, 28 Our data showed that when ODC expression in ESCC cells was knocked down, both proliferation and anchorage-independent growth of ESCC cells were significantly suppressed (Fig. 2c, d). This evidence concerns the gene ODC1 and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.