IRF1 is a transcription factor that regulates a number of IFN‐inducible genes in response to viral infection or interferon stimulation.46 The role of IRF1 in cancer progression is controversial depending on cancer types.47, 48 Our current study demonstrated that IRF1 was transcriptionally regulated by FOXM1c and was an important regulator for the oesophageal cancer cell invasion and migration via MMP2/9. Here, MMP2 is linked to viral infectious disease.