Downregulation of EZR inhibits esophageal squamous cell carcinoma progression through the impairment of focal adhesion activation and the EGFR-mediated PI3K/AKT pathway

Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is a prevalent gastrointestinal malignancy in China and is associated with a poor prognosis and limited therapeutic options. EZR encodes Ezrin, a key scaffold protein that bridges the cell membrane and cytoskeleton. Its aberrant upregulation and carcinogenic role in driving malignant progression across numerous human malignancies has been established. However, the expression profile, specific biological functions, and underlying molecular mechanisms of EZR in ESCC remain largely unclear, which has limited the exploration and development of novel targeted therapeutic strategies against ESCC. This study aims to explore the role of EZR in the malignant progression of ESCC, identify its potential downstream molecules, and screen for its potential interacting proteins, so as to reveal the key mechanism by which EZR regulates ESCC progression.