In esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) cell lines, TWIST1 is a crucial transcription factor that enhances the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) by downregulating E-cadherin and upregulating mesenchymal genes such as N-cadherin, ZEB2, vimentin, and fibronectin. The gene discussed is CDH2; the disease is esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.