Notably, 18 of the 20 downregulated DE-TrpGs (ALDH9A1, ALDH3A2, ADH1B, AOX1, MAOA, ECHS1, ALDH2, ACAT1, HAAO, ALDH7A1, HADHA, AKR1A1, CYP4X1, INMT, CYP2U1, CAT, HADH, and NMNAT1) showed significantly reduced expression specifically in ESCC fibroblasts compared to their normal counterparts. Here, AKR1A1 is linked to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.