They reported a higher number of deregulated HOX genes in ESCC, with nine genes exclusively expressed in tumors (HOXA10, HOXA13, HOXB7, HOXC4, HOXC8, HOXD9, HOXD10, and HOXD13) and three overexpressed in ESCC relative to NMSM (HOXA7, HOXA9, and HOXC6). This evidence concerns the gene HOXC8 and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.