The effect of ASCL2 on cell growth. (A) RT‐PCR (top) and western blot (bottom) analysis of MKN‐1 cells stably expressing ASCL2. (B) Proliferation was measured at 24, 48, 72 and 96 h. The data are presented as the means ± SD of triplicate experiments. (C) Anchorage‐dependent colony formation assay in a monolayer culture. Columns, results of triplicate experiments; error bars, SD. *P < 0.05, **P < 0.01.