IBSP and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: In the present study, western blotting showed that mesenchymal markers (N-cadherin and Fibronectin) were upregulated in IBSP cells, while epithelial markers (E-cadherin and β-catenin) were significantly downregulated, suggesting that the effects of IBSP on ESCC progression might be partly associated with the EMT process.