A large number of cancer‐associated lncRNAs are screened out using the subtractive hybridization method and especially high‐throughput chip or sequencing technology.28, 42 For example, MALAT‐1, a well‐known lncRNA, was identified from differential expression genes between primary non–small‐cell lung tumours that metastasized or did not subsequently.43 MALAT‐1 expression was also higher in ESCC tissues than that in adjacent normal tissues and was associated with poor prognosis.44, 45 At present, there is a lack of effective biomarkers for clinical diagnosis of ESCC. Here, MALAT1 is linked to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.