IRX3 and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: 67 Similarly, EN2 is upregulated in esophageal squamous cell carcinomas68.The genes that have no apparent relationship with esophageal squamous cell carcinomas include BARHL2, HLX, DLX6, DRGX, HMX3, GSX1, IRX3, ARX, and RHOXF1.