LDHD and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: Subsequently, we discovered that CDK7 could promote ESCC-CSCs phenotypes by upregulating YAP expression and then facilitating its nuclear phosphorylation at S127 and S397 sites, which could govern transcription driven by YAP, and activated YAP enhanced LDHD expression to accelerate D-lactate catabolism in the mitochondria of ESCC CSCs, ultimately protecting these cells from ferroptosis.