TGF-β1 overexpression did not significantly affect NCK1-AS1 expression (Figure 4b), while NCK1-AS1 overexpression upregulated TGF-β1 expression in ESCC cells at both mRNA and protein levels (Figure 4c, p < 0.05). This evidence concerns the gene TGFB1 and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.