As expected, knockdown of DARS-AS1 dramatically enhances the cleavage of PARP in SW620 cells and increases the proportion of AnnexinV-positive cells in SW620, HCT116, HepG2 and MBA-MD-231 cell lines (Fig. 3k, l and Supplementary Fig. 3f–h), indicating the anti-apoptotic role of DARS-AS1 in cancer cells, contrary to the apoptosis-inducing function of PACT. This evidence concerns the gene ANXA5 and cancer.