{
  "abstract": "The long noncoding RNA AFAP1-AS1 is aberrantly expressed in multiple solid tumors, but its functional role in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) remains incompletely characterized. In this study, analysis of the TCGA-LIHC cohort and eight paired HCC and matched adjacent non-tumor tissues showed that AFAP1-AS1 was upregulated in HCC and associated with poorer overall survival in the TCGA cohort. Knockdown of AFAP1-AS1 inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HCC cells. Bioinformatic prediction, expression analysis, and dual-luciferase reporter assays supported a possible regulatory relationship between AFAP1-AS1 and miR-195-5p at the predicted binding site. Inhibition of miR-195-5p increased FOXK1 expression, consistent with the effectiveness of miR-195-5p inhibition, and enhanced HCC cell migration and invasion. It also increased glucose consumption and lactate production, indicating glycolysis-related metabolic changes. Exploratory RNA-seq analysis after miR-195-5p inhibition, integrated with FOXK1 target genes and a glycolysis-related gene set, identified four candidate genes. However, these candidates and the role of FOXK1 in mediating the observed phenotypes were not functionally validated. Rescue experiments showed that miR-195-5p inhibition partially reversed the suppressive effects of AFAP1-AS1 knockdown on HCC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion. In addition, inhibition of miR-195-5p promoted tumor growth in a HCC xenograft model. Overall, these findings suggest a possible association of AFAP1-AS1 and miR-195-5p with malignant phenotypes and glycolysis-related metabolic changes in HCC.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 2,
  "authors": [
    {
      "name": "Peng Gu"
    },
    {
      "name": "Weixin Ren"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/6kxfrpaz1b6ev.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.1038/s41598-026-76653-z",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "6kxfrpaz1b6ev",
  "issns": [
    "2045-2322"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-76653-z",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "1306|Cancer-related molecular mechanisms research"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7222012337",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-76653-z_reference.pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-15",
  "publisher": "Springer Science and Business Media LLC",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/6kxfrpaz1b6ev.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:17:28Z",
      "native_id": "10.1038/s41598-026-76653-z",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-026-76653-z"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:1306|Cancer-related molecular mechanisms research",
      "subfield": "oncology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "AFAP1-AS1/miR-195-5p is associated with malignant phenotypes and glycolysis-related metabolic changes in hepatocellular carcinoma",
  "title_text": "AFAP1-AS1/miR-195-5p is associated with malignant phenotypes and glycolysis-related metabolic changes in hepatocellular carcinoma",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:17:28Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/6kxfrpaz1b6ev",
  "venue": "Scientific Reports",
  "versions": []
}