The results showed that the expression levels of TGFβ1, N-cadherin and vimentin were decreased while E-cadherin was increased in the LTBP1-inhibited cells as compared to the control cells (Fig. 4a), suggesting that downregulation of LTBP1 may cause mesenchymal- epithelial transition in ESCC cell lines. This evidence concerns the gene VIM and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.