SMAD7 and carcinoma of esophagus: The transcription factor forkhead box D3 (FOXD3) can bind directly to the promoter region of the SMAD7 gene, leading to the transcriptional promotion of SMAD7 in human oesophageal cancer cells, inhibition of the TGF-β pathway, and suppressive effects in oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma [31].