The importance of OCT4 in tumorigenesis and as a prognostic marker has been previously reported.31 OCT4 maintains the CSC-like properties in lung cancer-derived CD133+ cells.32 Moreover, OCT4 is significantly associated with a poor prognosis of lung cancer.33 In the present study, the expression of TGIF2 and OCT4 was correlated in patients with NSCLC, corroborating that TGIF2 promotes LUAD stemness by upregulating OCT4 expression. This evidence concerns the gene PROM1 and non-small cell lung carcinoma.