Flow cytometry analysis revealed that overexpression of TRAF3IP2-AS1 remarkably induced apoptosis rate in NONO-TFE3 tRCC cells (Fig. 2i), and opposite results were observed in 786-O cells with lowering expression of TRAF3IP2-AS1, which was confirmed by testing mRNA level of anti-apoptotic proteins BCL2 and baculoviral IAP repeat containing 5 (BIRC5) (Additional file 2: Fig. S1). The gene discussed is TFE3; the disease is renal cell carcinoma associated with Xp11.2 translocations/TFE3 gene fusions.