Fan C et al. (2016) reported that icariin (20, 40, 80 μM for 12, 24, 36 h) dose-dependently upregulated the expression of p-PERK, GRP78, ATF4, p-eIF2α, CHOP and pro-apoptotic protein PUMA and downregulated the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl2 in human EC cells EC109 and TE1 ESCC, ultimately interfering tumor cell adhesion and migration, which were attenuated after inhibition of ERS by eIF2α siRNA. This evidence concerns the gene EIF2A and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.