RASAL2 knockdown promotes LoVo and HCT116 cell proliferation in vitro. (A) Decreased RASAL2 protein expression was validated using western blotting and quantified relative to β-actin. (B) Decreased RASAL2 mRNA expression was validated using the reverse transcription-quantitative polymerase chain reaction. (C) Representative images of the colony formation assay following RASAL2 shRNA knockdown. (D) Evaluation of cell viability following RASAL2-shRNA transfection using the MTT assay. Values are presented as the mean ± standard deviation of triplicate data. *P<0.05, **P<0.01, ***P<0.001 vs. the Con cells. RASAL2, RAS protein activator-like 2; shRNA, short hairpin RNA; Con, untransfected; Ct, control; OD, optical density.