In the present study, both circ-231 and eIF4A3 were overexpressed in ESCC and participated in TPI1 and PRDX6 mRNA initial translation, suggesting that both circ-231 and eIF4A3 were involved in tumor progression via post-transcriptionally regulating the expression of TPI1 and PRDX6. The gene discussed is TPI1; the disease is esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.