Over-expression of Long Non-Coding RNA ZEB2-AS1 May Predict Poor Prognosis and Promote the Migration, Invasion, and Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition of Tumor Cells in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer.

Background: Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains the most common cause of human cancer-related death worldwide, and the present study aims to explore the roles of long non-coding (lnc)RNA ZEB2-AS1 in NSCLC and the related mechanism. Methods: Quantitative real-time-polymerase chain reaction was performed to compare the expressions of ZEB2-AS1 in NSCLC cancer tissue and the adjacent non-tumorous tissues. The diagnostic and prognostic roles of ZEB2-AS1 in NSCLC were also evaluated by the receiver operating characteristic curve and the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. NSCLC cell line A549 cells were transfected with ZEB2-AS1 siRNA, and the cell viability, migration, invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of the ZEB2-AS1 siRNA group and control group were compared. Results: ZEB2-AS1 was significantly increased in NSCLC tissues. The knockdown of ZEB2-AS1 markedly inhibited the cell viability, migration, invasion, and EMT of A549 cells in vitro. Conclusion: ZEB2-AS1 was up-regulated in NSCLC, and it may serve as a potential target for the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of NSCLC.