Figure 1.

The expression of AFAP1‐AS1 is up‐regulated in laryngeal carcinoma specimens and promotes laryngeal carcinoma cell stemness. A, Elevated expression of AFAP1‐AS1 in 24 laryngeal carcinoma specimens compared with adjacent normal tissues by qRT‐PCR. P < .001. B, HEp‐2 cell morphology of parental cells and stemness‐enriched cell spheres (left) and corresponding AFAP1‐AS1 expression by qRT‐PCR (right). **P < .01, compared with parental cells. C, Expression of stemness‐associated genes (Sox‐2, KLF4, CD44, CD133, MYC and Nanog) in parental cells and stemness‐enriched cell spheres. Gene expression was analysed by qRT‐PCR. D, HEp‐2 cells were transfected with AFAP1‐AS1 siRNA to inhibit AFAP1‐AS1 expression. AFAP1‐AS1 levels were analysed by qRT‐PCR. **P < .01, compared with control siRNA transfected cells. E, Expression of stemness‐associated genes in AFAP1‐AS1 silenced HEp‐2 cells. Gene expression was analysed by qRT‐PCR. **P < .01, compared with control siRNA transfected cells. F, Number of tumour spheres in AFAP1‐AS1 silenced HEp‐2 cells. **P < .01, compared with control siRNA transfected cells