LncRNA NCK1-AS1 Was Overexpressed in Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Predicts Survival

Backgrounds: : NCK1-AS1 promotes cervical cancer, while its involvement in esophageal cancer is hardly known. We therefore explored the involvement of NCK1-AS1 in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and analyzed the possible interaction between NCK1-AS1 and TGF-β signaling. Methods: : Our study selected 52 cases (30 males and 22 females, 46 to 70 years, 56.4 ±6.6 years) to be used as the research subjects in this study. RT-qPCR and western blot were used for gene expression analysis. Transient transfections were used to analyze gene interaction. Transwell assays were performed to analyze cell invasion and invasion. Results: : Our data showed that NCK1-AS1 was overexpressed in ESCC patients. NCK1-AS1 in plasma was positively correlated with the NCK1-AS1 in tumor but not in non-tumor tissues. High plasma levels of NCK1-AS1 were accompanied by poor survival. TGF-β1 expression level was also increased in tumor tissues compared to tumor adjacent normal tissues. TGF-β1 was positively correlated with NCK1-AS1 in tumor tissues. TGF-β1 overexpression did not affect NCK1-AS1 expression, while NCK1-AS1 upregulated TGF-β1 in ESCC cells. TGF-β1 and NCK1-AS1 increased ESCC cell migration and invasion, TGF-β inhibitor reduced the effects of NCK1-AS1 overexpression. Conclusion: Therefore, NCK1-AS1 may promote ESCC by upregulating TGF-β1.