PELI1 and neoplasm of esophagus: Accordingly, although PELI1 did not affect the basal apoptosis levels, IR‐induced apoptosis was also significantly suppressed in both cell lines upon PELI1 knockdown (Fig. 3D,E), suggesting PELI1 is critical for the regulation of IR‐induced apoptosis whereas it is dispensable for the basal apoptosis rate without irradiation in esophageal tumor cells.