In this study, we aimed to detect the expression of circ_NRIP1 in ESCC patients, and its role in ESCC cell growth, migration and invasion both in vitro and in vivo; furthermore, a novel ceRNA pathway associated with circ_NRIP1, miR-595 and SEMA4D was to figure out in the malignant cell progression, as well as PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. This evidence concerns the gene SEMA4D and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.