Results of a previous study revealed that low SNHG12 expression levels in patients with ESCC are associated with poor clinical outcomes.34 In CD133-ESCC cells, SNHG12 overexpression promoted the proliferation and stemness of ESCC cells.35 Collectively, these results indicated that SNHG12 may act as an oncogene or tumor suppressor in ESCC, and the role of SNHG12 may vary depending on cell subtypes and underlying molecular mechanisms. The gene discussed is SNHG12; the disease is esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.