MiR‐542‐3p inhibits invasion and migration of esophageal cancer by repressing OTUB1 [22], suppresses the proliferation of osteosarcoma via targeting Smad2 [23], inhibits progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma by impeding ILK/TGF-β1/Smad2/3 [24]. Here, SMAD2 is linked to esophageal cancer.