This study identified the effects of mir-181a-5p in the progression of esophageal cancer by in vivo and in vitro experiments, and we confirmed that the up-regulation of mir-181a-5p can reduce the expression of MEK1 and inhibit the transmission of ERK signal pathway, so as to inhibit the proliferation, migration and invasion of esophageal cancer cells. This evidence concerns the gene MAP2K1 and esophageal cancer.