KLF5 and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: Cell proliferation was more vital in the pcDNA-KLF5 group in three ESCC cell lines than that in the blank control group at 48- and 72-h post-transfection (P < 0.05), while cell proliferation was significantly weaker in the siKLF5 group in three ESCC cell lines than that in the siNC at 48- or 72-h post-transfection (P < 0.05; Fig. 2B, C and D).