Studies have indicated that DUSP1 exhibited specificity in dephosphorylating distinct MAPK pathways in various tumor types, such as targeting the JNK pathway in prostate cancer31 and the p38/MAPK pathway in hepatocellular carcinoma.32 However, the specific role of DUSP1 on MAPK subfamilies in ESCC remains to be determined. The gene discussed is MAPK8; the disease is esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.