Fig. 2

HOXA-AS3 knockdown suppresses GC cell proliferation, invasion, and migration. a HOXA-AS3 levels were compared in GC and control cell lines. b Relative HOXA-AS3 expression was evaluated in GC cells following transfection with three different shRNAs specific for this lncRNA. c, d The relative proliferation of GC cells following shHOXA-AS3 or shNC transfection was assessed via colony formation assay. e–g The impact of HOXA-AS3 knockdown on MKN-45 (e, f) and SGC-7901 (g, h) cellular migration was assessed via wound healing assay (scale bar, 100 μm). i, j Transwell assays were used to assess the proliferation and invasion of MKN-45 and SGC-7901 cells transfected as in c-d (scale bar, 100 μm). k Nude mice were subcutaneously implanted with SGC-7901 cells transfected with shHOXA-AS3 or shNC, with representative xenograft tumor images being shown. l, m Xenograft tumor weight and volume were compared in the two treatment groups. n HOXA-AS3 suppressed the in vivo metastasis of GC cells. Left: representative lung bright-field images, with lesions marked by arrows. Right: representative H&E-stained images of lung nodules (scale bar, 25 μm). o Numbers of metastases were quantified. Data are means ± SD from triplicate experiments. ^*P < 0.05, ^**P < 0.01, ^***P < 0.001, ^****P < 0.0001. NS no significance