We analyzed the TET family members, TET1/2/3, expression in ESCC according to the TCGA database and found that only TET3 was significantly over-expressed, while no significant difference existed in TET1 or TET2 expression compared with the para-cancerous tissues (Fig. 3a, Additional file 2: Table S4). This evidence concerns the gene TET1 and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.