MTDH and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: Astrocyte elevated gene-1 (AEG-1)/Lysine-rich CEACAM1 co-isolated protein (LYRIC) in humans is encoded by gene metadherin (MTDH); mapped in chromosome 8q22 is a prime oncogene, constituting about 528 amino acids, two nuclear localization sequences, an N terminal transmembrane region, a possible ATP or GTP-binding site and several putative phosphorylation sites [1], which is markedly overexpressed in several cancer types [2] as in esophageal squamous cell (ESCC) [3], gastric [4], colorectal [5], hepatocellular (HCC) [6,7], breast [8], prostate [9] and osteosarcoma [10].