This analysis showed that, compared to non-tumor matching controls, NKX2-1-AS1 and NKX2-1 expression was increased in adenocarcinoma, whereas levels of both NKX2-1-AS1 and NKX2-1 were decreased in squamous cell carcinoma [AC vs SCC: NKX2-1-AS1 p = 0.030; NKX2-1 p = 0.029] (Fig. 1B), in concordance with previous RNA-sequencing findings that NKX2-1-AS1 expression is higher in lung adenocarcinomas than in squamous cell carcinomas11,21. This evidence concerns the gene NKX2-1 and squamous cell carcinoma.