Conclusions: Our data unravels the detailed mechanism by which STAU1 binds to secondary structure in 5′ UTR of mRNAs and recruits eIF4A3 through interacting with circ-231 and thereby eIF4A3 is implicated in unwinding of secondary structure, which is common to HEK293T and ESCC. This evidence concerns the gene STAU1 and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma.