title: AFAP1-AS1 is upregulated and promotes esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell proliferation and inhibits cell apoptosis.
abstract: Recent findings indicate that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) were dysregulated in many kinds of tumors including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC). LncRNA AFAP1-AS1 was found to be upregulated in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), lung cancer, colorectal cancer, esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, and nasopharyngeal carcinoma, while its clinical value and potential function in ESCC are still unknown. Expression of AFAP1-AS1 was measured in 65 ESCC tissues and corresponding noncancerous tissues by quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, which revealed that AFAP1-AS1 expression was markedly elevated in ESCC tissues and significantly associated with advanced TNM stage (P = 0.004) and larger tumor size (P = 0.040). Moreover, by knocking down AFAP1-AS1 expression in ESCC cells, the proliferation and colony-forming ability were inhibited and cell apoptosis was induced. Our data indicated the first time that AFAP1-AS1, a novel oncogene, was remarkably upregulated and played a critical role in the progression of ESCC.
authors: Department of Radiotherapy, Huai'an First People's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an, Jiangsu, 223300, China.
authors: Hong-Lei
authors: HL
authors: Luo
authors: Department of Medical Oncology, Huai'an First People's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an, Jiangsu, 223300, China.
authors: Ming-de
authors: MD
authors: Huang
authors: Department of Medical Oncology, Huai'an First People's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an, Jiangsu, 223300, China.
authors: Jia-Ni
authors: 0000-0002-9899-0924
authors: JN
authors: Guo
authors: Department of Medical Oncology, Huai'an First People's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an, Jiangsu, 223300, China.
authors: Rui-Hua
authors: RH
authors: Fan
authors: Department of Medical Oncology, Huai'an First People's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an, Jiangsu, 223300, China.
authors: Xiao-Tian
authors: XT
authors: Xia
authors: Department of Medical Oncology, Huai'an First People's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an, Jiangsu, 223300, China. hjddoctor@126.com.
authors: Jing-Dong
authors: JD
authors: He
authors: Department of Medical Oncology, Huai'an First People's Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an, Jiangsu, 223300, China. cxf003835@126.com.
authors: Xiao-Fei
authors: XF
authors: Chen
mesh_terms: D017209:Apoptosis; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D049109:Cell Proliferation; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D000077277:Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma; D005260:Female; D015972:Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding / Q000235:genetics*; D047368:Tumor Burden; D015854:Up-Regulation
chemical_list: C000605367:AFAP1-AS1 long noncoding RNA, human; D062085:RNA, Long Noncoding
keywords: 
  AFAP1-AS1
  ; esophageal squamous cell carcinoma; malignant proliferation; noncoding RNA