In addition, AIF was reported to increase radiosensitivity in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) by suppressing the expression of nuclear transcription factor Nrf2 and Nrf2-driven antioxidant molecule NQO-1 and HO-1, aggravating reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, DNA damage apoptosis, and cell cycle arrest (Zhang et al., 2017a). This evidence concerns the gene HMOX1 and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.