In addition, RT-qPCR results demonstrated that mRNA levels of NFE2L2 and NRF2-regulated cytoprotective genes were also downregulated in the ESCC cells with SOX17-WT overexpression, while the expressions of these genes were not affected after SOX17-ΔHMG overexpression (Fig. 3C and D), indicating that the transcription activity of SOX17 is negatively correlated with the NRF2-regulated cytoprotective pathway. Here, SOX17 is linked to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.