NKCC1 expression is closely related to the differentiation of ESCC cells, and genetic or pharmacologic inhibition of NKCC1 in ESCC cell lines significantly decreases the rate of cell proliferation, indicating that NKCC1 is involved in cell cycle regulation (Shiozaki et al., 2014a). Here, SLC12A2 is linked to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.