Downregulation of long non-coding RNA NR2F2-AS1 inhibits proliferation and induces apoptosis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma cells by upregulating the expression of PTEN

The novel long non-coding RNA NR2F2-AS1 has been characterized as an oncogene in lung cancer. The present study aimed to investigate the role of NR2F2-AS1 in nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The results demonstrated that expression of NR2F2-AS1 and phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) were negatively associated with each other in NPC tissues. Furthermore, upregulated NR2F2-AS1 expression levels and downregulated PTEN expression levels in NPC tissues predicted less favorable survival outcomes in patients with NPC. Transfection of NPC cells with NR2F2-AS1 small interfering RNA resulted in increased expression of PTEN. In addition, NR2F2-AS1 silencing and PTEN overexpression resulted in decreased proliferation and an increase in the apoptotic rate of NPC cells. In conclusion, NR2F2-AS1 downregulation decreased proliferation and increased apoptosis of NPC cells via upregulation of PTEN.