We found ATAD2 positively regulated epithelial-mesenchymal transition in ESCC cells through upregulation of Snail, Vimentin and N-cadherin and downregulation of E-cadherin and further indicated that the pro-metastatic ability of ATAD2 is, to a large extent, depending on TGF-β signaling induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition. The gene discussed is SNAI1; the disease is esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.