Defining malignant cell-intrinsic molecular determinants linked to NAT response is essential for improving prognostic stratification and informing individualized therapeutic decision-making.<h4>Methods</h4>To investigate transcriptional alterations in malignant epithelial cells, we analyzed scRNA-seq datasets obtained from ESCC patients both before and after NAT. Here, BRD2 is linked to esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.