HOXB7 and cancer: In our study, the knockdown of TUG1 was found to result in anti-apoptotic activity; the lower expression of TUG1 strengthens this effect due to the loss of PRC2 binding and H3K27 trimethylation occupancy at the HOXB7 locus, similarly to the function of ncRNA intSMYD3.41 Moreover, epigenetic deregulation, especially histone modification, contributes to the deregulation of HOX genes in cancer.26 This negative correlation highlights the importance of TUG1, especially in NSCLC tumorigenesis.