Huang W, Zhu J, Shi H, et al. - Researchers assessed the role of integrin alpha 2 (ITGA2) in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) as well as examined the potential underlying mechanism via in vitro and in vivo approaches. They used the Gene expression profiling interactive analysis to examine the expression profile of ITGA2 in ESCC. A chi-square test was applied to determine the effect of ITGA2 on the clinicopathological features. Upregulation of ITGA2 in ESCC tissues was found, as well as an association of ITGA2 with lymph node metastasis and TNM stage. Findings demonstrated a role of ITGA2 as a promoter of proliferation, invasion and migration in ESCC while also behaving as an inhibitor of apoptosis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition promoter in ESCC, likely through focal adhesion kinase/AKT phosphorylation. These observations emphasize the therapeutic value of ITGA2 in ESCC.