We performed differential expression analysis in the GSE38129 dataset and found that seven out of the 12 CRGs showed statistically significant differences in expression between the ESCC and normal groups, with GLS, LIAS, MTF1, and PDHB genes being highly statistically significant (P < 0.001) (Figure 1C). Here, MTF1 is linked to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.