CRABP2 promotes EMT and cell migration. (A) The mRNA expression of CRABP2 was detected after CRABP2 overexpression in C643 and OCUT-2C cells. (B) The protein expression of CRABP2 was detected after CRABP2 overexpression in C643 and OCUT-2C cells. (C) Transwell assay was performed to assess the invasive ability of C643 and OCUT-2C cells with CRABP2 overexpression. (D) Scratch wound healing assay was performed to assess the migration ability of C643 and OCUT-2C cells with CRABP2 overexpression. (E) The EMT-related proteins were detected after CRABP2 overexpression in C643 and OCUT-2C. (F) The migration-related proteins were detected after CRABP2 overexpression in C643 and OCUT-2C cells. (G) Immunofluorescence staining was used to detect E-cadherin and vimentin expression after CRABP2 overexpression in C643 and OCUT-2C cells. All of the aforementioned experiments were repeated at least three times. *P<0.05, **P<0.01 and ***P<0.001. LINC01816, long intergenic non-protein coding RNA 1816; miR-34c-5p, microRNA-34c-5p; EMT, epithelial-mesenchymal transition; OE, overexpression; NC, negative control.