Although many of them were not differentially expressed, they were differentially co‐expressed with both KRT78 and BICDL2. Among these genes, lncRNA C20orf204 (named LINC00176 in GRCh37 coordinates, P = .168) has been confirmed to negatively regulate cell proliferation in Huh7.5OC cells.59 Tran et al found that C20orf204 regulates expression of more than 200 genes by a sponge function for tumour suppressor miRNAs in hepatocellular carcinoma.60 Its function in ESCC is also worth further investigation. This evidence concerns the gene C20orf204 and hepatocellular carcinoma.