OTUD3 and ZFP36 were potently downregulated, while VEGF-C was elevated in the freshly collected esophageal cancer samples from the heavy-smoking patients compared to those from non-smokers, suggesting a significant relevance of the OTUD3/ZFP36/VEGF-C axis in primary tumors (Fig. 7a). This evidence concerns the gene OTUD3 and esophageal cancer.