Long chain noncoding RNAs (LncRNAs), a class of noncoding RNA nucleotides longer than 200 bp, have important roles in a variety of biological processes. Accumulating evidence has confirmed the involvement of LncRNAs in cancer initiation, development and progression. We investigated the expression of LncRNA PEG10 in a cohort of esophageal carcinomas to assess its impact on esophageal cancer cell proliferation, apoptosis and invasion. Quantitaive reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction assays were used to quantify LncRNA PEG10 expression levels in 43 paired EC samples and adjacent non-neoplastic tissues. Cell growth, apoptosis and Transwell invasion assays were used to evaluate the effects of LncRNA PEG10 on esophageal cancer cells. LncRNA PEG10 was expressed at higher levels in esophageal cancer tissues than in adjacent non-neoplastic tissues (P<0.05). This relatively high expression was significantly associated with the occurrence of lymph node metastases (P<0.05). Apoptosis and migration rates were significantly decreased in two esophageal cancer cell lines (EC9706 and KYSE150) transfected with si-LncRNA PEG10 (P<0.05). Downregulation of LncRNA PEG10 decreased the expression of PEG10 (P<0.05). Our results indicated that LncRNA PEG10 is upregulated in esophageal cancer tissues, and its downregulation inhibits proliferation and invasion, and promotes apoptosis in esophageal cancer cells. LncRNA PEG10 may serve as a therapeutic agent in esophageal cancer.