Expression and functional role of long non-coding RNA AFAP1-AS1 in ovarian cancer

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to determine the expression, roles and functional mechanisms of long non-coding RNA AFAP1-AS1 (AFAP1-AS1) in the progression of ovarian cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS: AFAP1-AS1 expression was assessed in ovarian cancer samples and ovarian cancer cell lines by quantitative real-time PCR. The association of AFAP1-AS1 expression with clinicopathological factors was also analyzed. Gain-/loss-of-function studies were performed to investigate the expression pattern and functional role of AFAP1-AS1 in ovarian cancer. Effects of AFAP1-AS1 on cell proliferation were studied using cell-counting kit-8 assay. The effect of AFAP1-AS1 on ovarian cancer cells apoptosis was assessed by flow cytometry assay. RESULTS: AFAP1-AS1 was highly expressed both in ovarian cancer samples and cell lines compared with their corresponding normal counterparts. High AFAP1-AS1 expression was significantly associated with response and FIGO stage. Gain-of-function and loss-of-function experiments showed that AFAP1-AS1 promoted ovarian cancer cells proliferation. Flow cytometry assay showed that knockdown of AFAP1-AS1 promoted ovarian cancer cells apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggested that AFAP1-AS1 might be considered as a novel oncogene involved in ovarian cancer progression.