In this single-center pilot study, we retrospectively compared the expression of EMT-related proteins E-cadherin, vimentin, claudin, ZEB1/2, and Snail/Slug as well as miR-200 family members and miR-205 of tumor samples from patients with localized early invasive EC (pT1) that underwent ESD with tumor samples from patients with regional invasive EC (>pT1, pN1) that underwent esophagectomy to identify differentially expressed factors that might serve as molecular markers regarding the decision of ESD over esophagectomy. The gene discussed is ZEB1; the disease is neoplasm.