Western blot analysis demonstrated that phosphorylation of p65 mirrored expression of HOXB13, which was regulated by ciRS-7/miR-7 axis in Eca109 and KYSE150 cells (Fig. 5c), providing possible explanation for the oncogenic roles of ciRS-7 in ESCC. The gene discussed is HOXB13; the disease is esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.