The following are the limitations of our study: 1) our results were not verified by cell experiments; 2) only one type of colon cancer cell line was used; 3) the direct target of MALAT1 in colon cancer cells was not investigated; 4) the initiation of apoptosis involves different pathways, and it is not clear whether the initiation of apoptosis in colon cancer cells induced by MALAT1 knockdown is dependent on the extrinsic pathways (i.e. Fas and tumor necrosis factor pathways) or the intrinsic mitochondrial pathway. The gene discussed is TNF; the disease is colonic neoplasm.