Thus, Li et al. explored the expression profiles of multiple ESCC datasets and, through the integration of these profiles, identified six upregulated genes (HEATR1, TIMELESS, DTL, RUVBL1 and ECT2), which were found to be highly important in ESCC survival; the alterations in the expression of four genes (PRIM2, HGPD, NELL2 and RFAP28) were associated with changes in chromatin accessibility [50]. Here, TIMELESS is linked to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.