More important, treatment with Afatinib can markedly slow down the proliferation (p < 0.001, Fig. 2c) and increase apoptotic (p < 0.001, Fig. 2d), compared with control and sgCALM1-1 group, strongly suggesting the tumor-promoting role of CALM1 and EGFR in ESCC cells. Here, CALM1 is linked to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.