We previously reported that caffeic acid (3,4-dihydroxycinnamic acid, CA) could inhibit the demethylation activity of GASC1 in ESCC, and GASC1 was found to confer stem-cell-like characteristics, such as the ability to form spheres, in ESCC TICs [14, 15]. This evidence concerns the gene KDM4C and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.