• circ_0006156 is significantly upregulated in ESCC tissues and cell lines, correlating with poor overall survival.
• circ_0006156 acts as a sponge for miR-202-5p, relieving its suppression on TGFBR1 and activating the TGFβ/Smad pathway.
• Knockdown of circ_0006156 inhibits ESCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro and tumor growth in vivo.
• circ_0006156 represents a potential novel biomarker and therapeutic target for ESCC.
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