In conclusion, we showed that HOXC9 knockdown can restore the CSCs and migration abilities of DOK cells overexpressing HOXC-AS1, thereby suggesting that HOXC-AS1 interacts with HOXC9 to increase tumor stemness of oral leukoplakia and promote malignant transformation of oral leukoplakia. Here, HOXC-AS1 is linked to Oral leukoplakia.