Western blot analysis showed that the protein level of p-JNK (T183/Y185) was obviously enhanced in NUAK1-overexpressing ESCC cells, whereas was abrogated in NUAK1-depleted KYSE30 and KYSE150 cells, compared with their control groups, respectively (Fig. 6C and Additional file 1: Fig. S2C). Here, MAPK8 is linked to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.