Although we did not investigate the downstream target gene of MALAT1 in ESCC, we preliminarily predicted that 113 miRNAs could be regulated by MALAT1 (supplementary table 1), including miR-26a 41, 42 and miR-106b 43, 44, which we have already demonstrated are significantly correlated with invasion and metastasis of ESCC. The gene discussed is MALAT1; the disease is esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.