Our analyses using RNA-seq, quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR), western blot and IHC assays revealed that methionine induced NR4A2 expression in ESCC at both the mRNA and protein levels in both in vitro and in vivo models (Figs. 4F and 5A, B). Here, NR4A2 is linked to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.