TWIST1 and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: Since TWIST1 enhances β-catenin/TCF transcriptional activity in mesenchymal cells, we also tested the possibility of changes in the β-catenin/TCF transcriptional activity in ESCC cell lines, and showed high vimentin (Fig. 4C, D) and β-catenin protein levels (Fig. 4E, F), as well as low E-cadherin level (Fig. 4A, B) in ESCC cells.