DUSP1 and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: ERK activation is responsible for cell growth and metastasis in ESCC.33,34 Moreover, as the primary member of the MAPK family, ERK activation contributes to ESCC development.33–35 Hence, we hypothesized that ARNTL upregulates DUSP1 to induce ERK inactivation, thereby constraining ESCC progression in vitro.