Although much attention has been given to cancer‐related lncRNAs recently, only a few lncRNAs have been characterized in terms of their exact roles in malignant tumours.26, 27, 28 The lncRNAs GClnc1, HOTAIR, RMRP and GAPLINC have been characterized in gastric cancer.20, 29, 30, 31 However, these lncRNAs represent the tip of the iceberg, and the possible roles of many lncRNAs have yet to be determined in gastric cancer. This evidence concerns the gene HOTAIR and gastric cancer.