Objective To explore the expression of ZEB1-AS1 in endometrial cancer (EC), and its correlation with clinicopathological features.

Methods The expression of ZEB1-AS1 and ZEB1 in 195 pairs of endometrial cancer and paracancerous tissues were detected by qRT-PCR analysis. We analyzed the correlation of ZEB1-AS1 and ZEB1 expression with the clinical characteristics of EC patients. MTT assay, Transwell migration assay and invasion assay were used to detect the proliferation, migration and invasion of EC cell lines after ZEB1-AS1 overexpression.

Results ZEB1-AS1 and ZEB1 were upregulated in EC tissues (P < 0.05). The high expression level of ZEB1-AS1 and ZEB1 were positively correlated and could shorten the overall survival time of EC patients (P < 0.05). The high expression levels of ZEB1-AS1 was correlated with family history, pathology grade, pathological type, chemotherapy, clinical stage, T stage, M stage and HPV infection of EC patients (P < 0.05). The high expression levels of ZEB1 was correlated with family history, pathology grade, clinical stage, T stage, N stage and M stage (P < 0.05). Overexpression of ZEB1-AS1 promoted the proliferation, migration and invasion of EC cell lines (all P < 0.05).

Conclusion Both ZEB1-AS1 and ZEB1 are upregulated in EC tissues and could promote the metastasis, invasion of endometrial cancer and indicate the poor prognosis.