<i>LncRNA SSTR5-AS1</i> promotes esophageal carcinoma through regulating <i>ITGB6/JAK1/STAT3</i> signaling

<b>Aim:</b> To investigate function of somatostatin receptor 5 antisense RNA 1 (SSTR5-AS1) in esophageal carcinoma (ESCA).<b>Materials & methods:</b> The cellular function was assessed using EdU staining and Transwell assay. The localization of SSTR5-AS1 was measured using fluorescence <i>in situ</i> hybridization staining.<b>Results:</b> <i>SSTR5-AS1</i> shRNA repressed invasion and migration and induced apoptosis in ESCA cells. SSTR5-AS1 was distributed in cytoplasm, and it regulated its subunit integrin beta 6 (ITGB6) via eukaryotic translation initiation factor 4A3 (EIF4A3). SSTR5-AS1 shRNA inactivated ITGB6 and JAK1/STAT3 signaling. SSTR5-AS1 silencing attenuated the malignant behavior of ESCA cells through the ITGB6-mediated JAK1/STAT3 axis.<b>Conclusion:</b> SSTR5-AS1 promotes tumorigenesis of ESCA by interacting with EIF4A3 to regulate ITGB6/JAK1/STAT3 axis, which serves a basis for discovering strategies against ESCA.