The　expression　of　miR-203　has　been　reported　to　be　significantly　down-regulated　in　esophageal　cancer.　We　showed　here　that　overexpression　of　miR-203　in　esophageal　cancer　cells　dramatically　increased　cell　apoptosis　and　inhibited　cell　proliferation,　migration　and　invasion　as　well　as　tumor　growth　and　down-regulated　miR-21　expression.　We　subsequently　identified　that　small　GTPase　Ran　was　a　target　gene　of　miR-203.　Furthermore,　Ran　restoration　partially　counteracted　the　tumor　suppressive　effects　of　miR-203　and　increased　miR-21　expression.　Taken　together,　our　findings　suggest　that　miR-203　may　act　as　novel　tumor　suppressor　in　esophageal　cancer　through　down-regulating　the　expression　of　Ran　and　miR-21.　(C)　2013　Elsevier　Ireland　Ltd.　Published　by　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.