Du X et al. [21] identified that stromal HIC-5 was a predictive risk factor for lymph node metastasis in human esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and that cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs)-derived Hic-5 regulated ESCC cell migration and invasion by regulating cytokines and modifying the extracellular matrix (ECM). The gene discussed is TGFB1I1; the disease is esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.