Long non-coding RNA ZEB1-AS1 predicts a poor prognosis and promotes cancer progression through the miR-200a/ZEB1 signaling pathway in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

Emerging evidence suggests that long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) play pivotal roles in cancer progression, including in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHCC). The overexpression of lncRNA ZEB1 antisense 1 (ZEB1-AS1) has been discovered in several types of cancer; however, the clinical significance and functional role of ZEB1-AS1 in IHCC have not yet been determined. In the present study, ZEB1-AS1 was found to be upregulated in IHCC cell lines and tissues. A high ZEB1-AS1 expression was associated with clinical progression and a poor survival of patients with IHCC, and was identified as an independent risk factor for a poor prognosis. In addition, ZEB1-AS1 promoted the proliferation and metastasis of IHCC cells both in vitro and in vivo. ZEB1-AS1 was demonstrated to increase the expression of ZEB1 by sponging miR-200a and to thereby accelerate epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). On the whole, the findings of the present study demonstrate that ZEB1-AS1 promotes proliferation and metastasis in IHCC, and induces EMT through the miR-200a/ZEB1 signaling pathway. ZEB1-AS1 may thus be a promising prognostic biomarker and essential therapeutic target for IHCC.