AFAP1‐AS1 is upregulated and promotes esophageal squamous cell carcinoma cell proliferation and inhibits cell apoptosis

Recent findings indicate that long noncoding RNA s (lnc RNA s) were dysregulated in many kinds of tumors including esophageal squamous cell carcinoma ( ESCC ). Lnc RNA AFAP 1‐ AS 1 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 AFAP 1‐ AS 1 was measured in 65 ESCC tissues and corresponding noncancerous tissues by quantitative real‐time polymerase chain reaction, which revealed that AFAP 1‐ AS 1 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 AFAP 1‐ AS 1 expression in ESCC cells, the proliferation and colony‐forming ability were inhibited and cell apoptosis was induced. Our data indicated the first time that AFAP 1‐ AS 1 , a novel oncogene, was remarkably upregulated and played a critical role in the progression of ESCC .