As shown in Fig. 5A and B, ectopic expression of ATAD2 significantly promoted KYSE510 and KYSE30 cells migration and invasion, whereas they were significantly inhibited after TGF-β1 receptor blocking, inferring that the pro- metastatic effect of ATAD2 is at least in part depending on TGF-β signaling in ESCC. Here, TGFB1 is linked to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.