A genetic variant located in the intron of the lncRNA HOTAIR (rs920778) has been observed to contribute to increased susceptibility for the development of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and gastric cancer through a putative, de novo intronic enhancer element, leading to HOTAIR upregulation and further target gene expression dysregulation.39,40. The gene discussed is HOTAIR; the disease is esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.