Increased LINC00152 levels in TSCC promote cell proliferation, cell cycle progression and apoptosis inhibition. (A) RT-qPCR analysis was performed to detect LINC00152 expression in 15 TSCC and paired non-tumor tissues. Relative LINC00152 expression in (B) CAL-27 and (C) SCC-9 cell lines detected using RT-qPCR 48 h post-transfection with the indicated siRNAs (n=3). Relative LINC00152 expression in (D) CAL-27 and (E) SCC-9 cells detected using RT-qPCR 48 h post-transfection with pcDNA3.1-LINC00152/pcDNA3.1 (n=3). (F) CCK-8 assays were performed to measure cell growth 0, 24, 48 and 72 h post-transfection with si-LINC00152/si-NC or pcDNA3.1-LINC00152/pcDNA3.1 in CAL-27 and SCC-9 cells as indicated (n=6). (G) Flow cytometry was performed to analyze cell cycle progression in CAL-27 and SCC-9 cells (n=3). (H) Annexin V-FITC/propidium iodide staining was performed to measure cell apoptosis in CAL-27 and SCC-9 cells as indicated (n=3). Data are presented as the mean ± standard deviation. *P<0.05; **P<0.01. CCK-8, Cell Counting kit-8; LINC00152, long intergenic non-coding RNA 00152; NC, negative control; OD, optical density; RT-qPCR, reverse transcription-quantitative PCR; si, small interfering RNA; TSCC, tongue squamous cell carcinoma.