By combining the 18 TFs with the 2684 up-regulated genes in ESCC and the 361 genes down-regulated by Tan in ESCC TE-1 cells, we found a total of 6 TFs (BNC1, GLI2, BARX2, FOXN1, EN1 and NHLH2) (Fig 4D). This evidence concerns the gene GLI2 and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.