For the three upregulated miRNAs, the predicted hub genes were MYC, CCND1, HSP90AA1, PTEN, MAPK1, NOTCH1, CDH1, CASP3, HSPA4, and ACTB. For the five downregulated miRNAs, the predicted hub genes were AKT1, CCND1, CDC42, IL6, FN1, MAPK1, JUN, EGFR, ACTB, and HRAS. To verify potential importance in the development of ESCC, GO and KEGG analyses were also performed on these gene clusters. Here, AKT1 is linked to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.