The up-regulation of the lncRNA metastasis associated lung adenocarcinoma transcript 1 (MALAT1) mediates high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) expression in colon cancer via competing with miR-129-5p, and the MALAT1/miR-129-5p/HMGB1 axis serves as a key prognostic marker in the development of the tumor (16). The gene discussed is HMGB1; the disease is malignant colon neoplasm.