HOXD-AS1 boosted malignant progression of CCA through mediating miR-520c-3p/MYCN. (A) MYCN downexpression caused by HOXD-AS1 knockdown was saved by silencing miR-520c-3p. (B) MYCN overexpression caused by HOXD-AS1 amplification was saved by increasing miR-520c-3p. (C–G) Rescue assays of EdU, transwell, spheroid formation, stem marker analysis and chemo-resistance certified that inhibition of proliferation, invasion, stemness maintenance and chemo-resistance induced by knocking down HOXD-AS1 was retrieved through silencing miR-520c-3p in CCLP-1 cells, respectively. (H–L) Restoration of MYCN expression rescued the promotion of proliferation, invasion, stemness maintenance and chemo-resistance generated through HOXD-AS1 amplification in EdU, transwell, spheroid formation, stem marker analysis and chemo-resistance assays, respectively. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01.