Cancer medicine
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Metastasis and invasion are the primary causes of malignant progression in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is crucial step of acquisition of "stemness" properties in tumor cells. However, the mechanism of esophageal cancer metastasis remains unclear. ⋯ Finally, miR-130a-3p inhibits TGF-β-induced EC-1 cell migration, invasion, and EMT progression in a SMAD4-dependent way. In conclusion, this study provides new insights into the mechanism underlying ESCC metastasis. The TGF-β/miR-130a-3p/SMAD4 pathway could be potential targets for clinical treatment of ESCC.