Because we have reported that stratifin protein encoded by SFN by immunohistochemical assay was reduced significantly in ESCC compared with normal esophageal mucosa and intraepithelial neoplasia, the present study, however, revealed that stratifin mRNA expression was downregulated in ESCC compared with noncancerous tissues using an ESCC cohort of GSE53625. Here, SFN is linked to intraepithelial neoplasia.